Ming Dynasty: Charge, Emperor Yongle!

Yingtian, the Prince of Qin's residence.

As dawn broke, Zhu Shuang was already dressed in his court robes, attended by palace maids.

Princess Wang Yuemin, the principal wife of the King of Qin, took the Yishan Crown from the tray and gently and virtuously put it on Zhu Shuang.

"Why are you here?"

Zhu Shuang glanced at Wang Yuemin, his eyes full of dislike and disgust.

Because he married Wang Baobao's sister, a Mongol, he felt somewhat ashamed in the capital.

"Father is holding a grand court assembly today; something important must have happened."

"Your Highness, I am worried about you."

Wang Yuemin said with a worried expression.

"Nothing serious."

Zhu Shuang waved his hand dismissively: "Within the capital, all civil and military officials of the fifth rank and above, as well as us older princes and nobles, must attend court."

"Judging from this situation, it seems they're about to announce the appointment of a prime minister, but none of this concerns us."

"To be appointed Prime Minister!"

A strange light flashed across Wang Yuemin's beautiful eyes.

"Oh, right."

Zhu Shuang belatedly realized what was happening and said, "A military report has arrived from the front."

"Uncle Xu said in the military newspaper that my fourth brother captured the eldest daughter of the King of Qi of the Northern Yuan."

"Farewell, sea!"

Wang Yuemin exclaimed in surprise.

"The court has not yet made any arrangements for her; it will most likely be handled by the Empress Dowager."

"They might be sent to serve as maids in the palace, or to the Prince's residence."

"Go and see her when she arrives."

As soon as Zhu Shuang finished speaking, he strode out of the Prince's Mansion and rode his horse toward the Imperial Palace.

Wang Yuemin understood his meaning. He didn't want Hai Bie to come to the Prince of Qin's residence. After all, Prince Zhu Shuang of Qin had always been dissatisfied with her as his first wife, feeling that his status tainted the bloodline of the Ming royal family.

"princess."

Ulan Tuya called out softly.

"Um."

Wang Yuemin came to her senses and immediately returned to the back hall of the palace, dismissing the serving maids and leaving only Ulan Tuya behind.

"Tell the people in the residences of the Earl of Chengyi and Hu Weiyong."

"Make sure they keep a close eye on them; the two people Emperor Zhu chooses as his new prime minister are definitely going to be these two."

"Okay, I understand."

Ulan Tuya responded softly.

"Has there been any news from the north yet?"

"Haibie has been arrested, what about my brother and the others..."

Wang Yuemin frowned, worried about Wang Baobao, who was far away in the northern desert, and was her only relative.

If Wang Baobao gets into trouble, her situation in the Prince of Qin's mansion will become even more difficult, and it will be much harder for the scouts to continue gathering intelligence on the Ming Dynasty's military.

"Princess."

Ulan Tuya reassured him, "Prince Qi is the number one general of our Great Yuan, and we informed him of the Ming army's movements well in advance, so I don't think anything unexpected will happen."

"Once Princess Fuli arrives in the capital, you can ask her yourself."

"That's all we can do."

Wang Yuemin looked worriedly towards the direction of the grassland. Yingtian was nice, but it was not home.

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

"By the Mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees!"

"I have heard that the way to serve the ruler is through goodness and the way to assist virtue lies in harmony. This will surely enhance the wisdom of the Three Excellencies and increase the weight of the Nine Tripods. Therefore, I admire your talent and appoint you as my good advisor."

"Hu Weiyong, the Vice Chancellor of the Secretariat, was a man of refined taste and magnanimity, skilled in literature and learned in scholarship. He upheld the principles of loyalty and righteousness, fearless in the face of hardship, and possessed the integrity of a pine tree, unyielding even in the coldest of winters."

"You are worthy to receive the honor of being bestowed with a sword, and to fulfill the expectations of those who would help you cross the river. You are hereby appointed Left Vice Minister of the Secretariat, with the same honorary titles as before. Respectfully yours!"

The eunuch loudly proclaimed the imperial edict, each word a gem, resounding throughout the entire Fengtian Hall.

Boom!

Immediately, the entire audience erupted in uproar; Hu Weiyong had actually been appointed prime minister.

A few days ago, Li Shanchang, the Duke of Han, was exiled to Fengyang to oversee the construction of the Zhongdu Imperial Palace. Everyone thought that His Majesty was suppressing the nobles of Huaixi.

But the appearance of this edict today has overturned everyone's thinking.

Hu Weiyong was a protégé of Li Shanchang, and he had close ties with the powerful and influential people of Huaixi. This meant that the power of the Central Secretariat had returned to the hands of Huaixi.

Even Crown Prince Zhu Biao looked at Zhu Yuanzhang on the throne with a look of astonishment. He had clearly recommended Liu Bowen to the Secretariat, so how could it be Hu Weiyong?

"Your subject accepts the imperial decree and expresses his gratitude."

Hu Weiyong was overjoyed and immediately stepped forward, bowed his head, and accepted the imperial edict.

"If you have something to report, speak now; otherwise, the court is dismissed!"

The eunuch inquired, and seeing that no one stepped forward to report, continued, "Court adjourned!"

"Tap tap!"

Zhu Yuanzhang strode down from the imperial platform, turned around, and left the Fengtian Hall.

Congratulations, Prime Minister Hu!

Immediately, officials in the court offered their congratulations to Hu Weiyong.

Crown Prince Zhu Biao glanced at it, said nothing more, and left Fengtian Hall directly, instructing the Imperial Guard Command to prepare a carriage to go to the Marquis of Chengyi's residence.

"Cough cough."

At 9:00 AM, at the residence of the Marquis of Chengyi, Liu Bowen, supported by his eldest son Liu Lian, walked out, coughing frequently and looking haggard.

In the fourth year of Hongwu (1371), Liu Bowen submitted a memorial requesting to resign. Zhu Yuanzhang allowed him to return to his hometown. However, he was summoned back to the capital a few months later. He was ill and unable to walk properly, so he stayed in his residence and did not go out.

"Your Highness the Crown Prince."

"Your subject Liu Ji respectfully thanks His Highness the Crown Prince for his recommendation!"

Liu Bowen broke free from his eldest son Liu Lian's hand and quickly stepped forward to pay his respects.

Zhu Biao helped him up and led him to sit down on the couch: "Sir, there's no need for such formalities. Please come, sir."

"Your Highness, please."

Liu Bowen gestured, coughed a few more times, and an abnormal flush appeared on his face.

"Sir, please don't worry about it."

"Father chose Hu Weiyong merely to appease Huaixi during the great war."

"It's only a matter of time before you become prime minister."

Zhu Biao quickly spoke up to comfort Liu Bowen.

"Thank you, Your Highness."

Liu Bowen humbly replied, "Forgive me for my previous statement, but the current Secretariat is like a giant coffin."

"I am old and frail, so it is better for me to stay out of this mess."

"What do you mean by this, sir?"

With a slight frown, Zhu Biao thought that Liu Bowen's failure to enter the Secretariat was a source of some resentment in his heart.

"Ugh!"

Liu Bowen sighed deeply, his face full of worry, and said, "Does the Crown Prince still remember Yang Xian?"

"certainly."

Zhu Biao could never forget Yang Xian.

Yang Xian had already served Zhu Yuanzhang in 1356, and was sent as an envoy to Zhang Shicheng and Fang Guozhen. Because of his competence, he was repeatedly given important positions.

In the first year of the Hongwu reign (1368), he was appointed as the Vice Censor-in-Chief. In the second year of the Hongwu reign (1369), he was demoted to the position of Councilor of Shanxi Province for repeatedly impeaching Li Shanchang.

In the same year, he was summoned back to the capital and promoted to Right Vice Minister of the Central Secretariat. In the third year of Hongwu (1370), he was transferred to Left Vice Minister of the Central Secretariat, where he enjoyed unparalleled prominence.

Unfortunately, this man, who was single-mindedly targeting Xun Gui of Huaixi, was eventually impeached by Li Shanchang, Hu Weiyong and others, and was dismissed from office and executed.

"How similar Hu Weiyong is to Yang Xian today!"

"The only officials in the Secretariat with higher ranks than Hu Weiyong were the Left Chancellor, Duke of Han, Li Shanchang, and the Right Chancellor, Earl of Zhongqin, Wang Guangyang."

"Wang Guangyang has always been kind and gentle, but not good at politics. How could he possibly deal with Hu Weiyong?"

"It's only a matter of time before Hu Weiyong is promoted to Right Chancellor."

"Huaixi is a sharp blade; it can be used to expand territory, but it can also harm others and oneself."

"His Majesty's thoughts are beyond the comprehension of ordinary people."

"I am grateful for the Crown Prince's recommendation, but my health has not yet fully recovered, and I fear I will fail to live up to the Crown Prince's expectations."

Liu Bowen politely declined Zhu Biao's repeated recommendations.

"Take good care of yourself, sir; there is still a long future ahead."

Zhu Biao exchanged a few hurried words, then turned and left the Marquis of Chengyi's residence.

After seeing the Crown Prince off, Liu Bowen pondered quietly, Zhu Yuanzhang's actions undoubtedly making him tremble with fear.

This founding emperor of the Ming Dynasty possessed the magnanimity of Emperor Taizu of Song, but also the ruthlessness of Qin Shi Huang and Emperor Wu of Han. Hu Weiyong's appointment as prime minister may have been the last hurrah for the Huaixi faction.