Ming Dynasty: Charge, Emperor Yongle!

"As the commander-in-chief of an army."

"Indiscriminate killing of innocent people and bullying of vulnerable women."

"Disregarding national laws."

In the Qianqing Palace, Zhu Yuanzhang's face darkened after reading the urgent report sent by Xu Da from Yanmen Pass.

Sitting at the lower end of the table, Korean Prince Lee Sun-jang gently stroked the small hand warmer with his hands inside his wide sleeves, listening quietly.

"Zhu Yunqimuge, the principal wife of the King of Northern Yuan Qi".

"That's Kuo Kuo's wife, the sister-in-law of the Princess of Qin, and my relative."

"What is Lan Yu trying to do?"

Zhu Yuanzhang's anger could no longer be contained.

"Yes."

Li Shanchang had no choice but to nod in agreement.

"Mr. Li."

"Let the Secretariat draft an edict and send it to the Taiyuan Provincial Surveillance Commission."

"As soon as Lan Yu arrived in Taiyuan, he was immediately arrested and brought back to the capital to be submitted to the Ministry of Justice for trial."

"Your Majesty, please reconsider!"

Li Shanchang dared not stand idly by any longer and spoke up to dissuade him.

"What do you mean by 'think it over'?"

Zhu Yuanzhang looked displeased, his brows furrowed.

"The law of the land has eight provisions for deliberation."

"Discussing relatives, friends, the virtuous, the capable, the meritorious, the noble, the diligent, and the guests."

"Blue jade accounts for at least four of them."

Li Shanchang's slow and methodical analysis.

"Eight Discussions".

Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes revealed mockery and disdain as he spoke, "Mr. Li."

"I have not forgotten the first year of the Longfeng era, when I led my army to attack Yingtian."

"You advised me to issue a decree to the army that anyone who dares to kill or injure civilians or abduct women will be executed without mercy!"

"I remember as well."

Li Shanchang nodded.

"I have said it before, Mr. Li, you are my Xiao He."

"I ask you, when Fan Kuai broke the law, would Xiao He have advised Liu Bang to show leniency?"

"............."

Li Shanchang's lips moved, and after thinking carefully, he continued, "Your Majesty, I dare to ask you a question."

"Why didn't Tiande directly submit a memorial to impeach him, but instead used a secret military report?"

"Military law should be enforced in the barracks. Given Tian De's temper, even ten heads of Lan Yu wouldn't be enough to chop off."

"But he is, after all, the brother-in-law of the Prince of Kaiping and the maternal uncle of the Crown Princess."

"The King of Kaiping is the King of Kaiping, and Lan Yu is Lan Yu."

Zhu Yuanzhang remained determined to severely punish Lan Yu, coldly stating, "I did not grant him a certificate of merit."

"Very well, if Heaven will not punish, then I will punish."

"His Majesty."

Li Shanchang said urgently, "The Prince of Kaiping died early, and among the Crown Princess's relatives, he is her only maternal uncle."

"You should at least consider the Crown Prince's reputation."

"Um."

Zhu Yuanzhang glanced at him and said calmly, "I will ask the Crown Prince for his opinion before dealing with Lan Yu."

"Your Majesty, it is getting late, I shall take my leave now."

Li Shanchang rose from his seat and asked to leave.

Just then, a strong, resonant voice rang out from outside the hall: "Mao Xiang, Commander of the Imperial Guards, pays his respects to Your Majesty!"

"Announce!"

Zhu Yuanzhang raised his hand.

Wang Jinghong, a eunuch serving nearby, announced loudly, "His Majesty has summoned Mao Xiang, the commander of the Imperial Guard, to the palace."

"Tap tap!"

Mao Xiang handed his sword to the guards of the palace guards and strode into the Qianqing Palace, the sound of his armor plates rubbing together was particularly crisp.

"Greetings, Your Majesty, Duke of Han!"

"By order of the Crown Prince, I hereby instruct my subordinates to prepare for the transport and escort of the Duke of Han back to his residence."

"No!"

Li Shanchang's expression changed drastically. The Imperial Guard Commandery was a royal guard, and only the Crown Prince, besides the Emperor, could mobilize it.

As a noble and civil official, being escorted by the Imperial Guard Commandery would surely cause a stir if word got out.

"Mr. Li."

Zhu Yuanzhang interrupted, saying, "You are the Crown Prince's teacher and the head of the civil officials."

"Mao Xiang, protect the Duke of Han well, and walk slowly on the road."

"This subordinate obeys!"

Mao Xiang responded loudly.

"Your Majesty, I thank you for your great kindness!"

Seeing that he could not refuse, Li Shanchang had no choice but to step back and kneel down to perform a grand salute.

Zhu Yuanzhang helped him up and said with concern, "Mr. Li is over sixty years old and should be enjoying his grandchildren at home. I feel uneasy about troubling you like this."

"Your Majesty, I take my leave!"

Li Shanchang's back was soaked with sweat, and he stumbled as he left the Qianqing Palace.

Watching his departing figure, the gentleness on Zhu Yuanzhang's face gradually faded, replaced by indifference.

"Father."

Not long after Li Shanchang left, Crown Prince Zhu Biao entered the palace.

"Boss."

"knew?"

Zhu Yuanzhang stood with his hands behind his back, gazing out of the palace, his dragon eyes dark and deep.

"To save face for your son."

"hehe!"

Zhu Biao smiled coldly and said indifferently, "It is precisely because Lan Yu is a relative of the emperor that he must be severely punished."

"Otherwise, where will the hearts of the people be?"

"The Korean king is getting old and starting to become senile."

"Uncle Xu has resumed his command, and according to regulations, he can no longer concurrently handle affairs of the Secretariat."

"Your subject suggests that the Secretariat appoint another person."

Who do you prefer?

Zhu Yuanzhang glanced at him and asked.

"The Imperial Censor, Liu Ji."

Zhu Biao said a name.

"Master Liu".

"Are you trying to sow discord between Mr. Li and me?"

Zhu Yuanzhang shook his head. Liu Bowen's entry into the Secretariat undoubtedly indicated that scholars from eastern Zhejiang were encroaching on the territory of the powerful and wealthy in western Huai, which would likely cause unnecessary trouble.

"father."

"The fourth brother has done something really big this time."

"Seizing the opportunity, they annihilated over ten thousand of Kökö Töre's cavalry in one fell swoop."

"Uncle Xu also praised him as a talented general in his letter."

Zhu Biao then changed the subject, bringing up Zhu Di's actions in Bayanbulage.

"We never expected this brat to be so bold."

"Your Uncle Xu is even bolder. Let him be the commander-in-chief of an army and lead three thousand men to aid Geng Bingwen."

"This Tiande really treats his son-in-law like a laborer."

Zhu Yuanzhang appeared to be criticizing Xu Da, but in reality, he was secretly pleased.

Zhu Di made such a great contribution as soon as he went to the northern desert. What reason would those nobles have to stop the prince from leading troops and taking up his fiefdom in the future?

"deliver an imperial order."

"Prince Di of Yan was brave and valiant. In one battle, he annihilated 10,000 enemy soldiers and rescued friendly troops, making great contributions to the country."

"He is granted the power to make decisions on the spot and is allowed to establish his own three guards."

Zhu Yuanzhang made a grand gesture, bringing his private promise to Zhu Di into the open and announcing it to the army and the court.

"Yes."

The eunuch Wang Jinghong immediately went to deliver the imperial decree.

"I heard Zengshou went to see you."

Zhu Yuanzhang turned to look at his crown prince, Zhu Biao.

"Yes."

Zhu Biao replied, "He asked his son for help, saying he wanted to help his sister move some of her belongings."

"My belongings!"

Zhu Yuanzhang looked surprised.

"Xu's sister said that the gifts sent by the nobles were both to congratulate her on her marriage agreement with the Prince of Yan."

"Naturally, these belong to her and the Prince of Yan; there's no reason for them to be kept at her maternal home."

"Hahaha!"

Zhu Yuanzhang laughed heartily; this Xu Miaoyun was truly too clever.

The reason why the nobles gave gifts was simply to befriend Duke Xu Da of Wei. In this way, all the benefits were received by her and Zhu Di, and had nothing to do with the Duke of Wei's mansion anymore, leaving the people of Huaixi to suffer in silence.

"The Prince of Yan's residence has only just begun construction."

"Your Majesty, I have ordered the Construction Bureau to send more people to build the warehouse first."

Zhu Biao said with a smile.

"Yes, put the front hall and the back palace aside for now, and repair the storeroom to store my personal savings."

"Of all my daughters-in-law, I'm afraid the fourth son's wife has the most generous allowance."

At this point, Zhu Yuanzhang couldn't help but laugh again.

"Your subject will personally go to the Construction Supervision Office to supervise them."

Zhu Biao was also very satisfied with Xu Miaoyun. This sister-in-law was very shrewd, and in the future, the fourth brother's family would not have to worry.