Ming Dynasty: Charge, Emperor Yongle!

"They didn't even say goodbye after the court session ended."

"They went straight to the Marquis of Chengyi's residence."

"Boss, are you blaming us for not discussing this with you beforehand, or for not letting Liu Bowen into the Secretariat?"

Inside the Hall of Literary Glory, Zhu Yuanzhang reviewed the mountain of memorials piled on the table as he spoke.

"I wouldn't dare!"

Zhu Biao clasped his hands and bowed deeply.

"snort!"

Zhu Yuanzhang snorted coldly: "Of course I wouldn't dare."

"Do you think I don't know your personality?"

"Your subject does not understand."

Zhu Biao said directly, "Does Father want to use Hu Weiyong because he is not experienced enough, or because he comes from Huaixi?"

"Both."

Zhu Yuanzhang put down the memorial in his hand and slowly stood up: "My lord."

"In terms of seniority, talent, and virtue, Liu Bowen surpasses Hu Weiyong in every aspect."

"That's exactly why I can't use him."

"Father!"

Zhu Biao's eyes were filled with deep confusion.

"I cannot generalize about Mr. Li and Master Liu."

"One was placed in the Secretariat, and the other in the Censorate."

"Now, Mr. Li has gone to Fengyang, and Master Liu is ill at home."

"The influence of the two men on the Secretariat and the Censorate has never been diminished."

"It is no exaggeration to say that the Central Secretariat was the stronghold of the Huai-Xi Party."

"The Censorate is full of scholars from eastern Zhejiang, and the two groups check and balance each other."

"Have you thought about it? Now that Liu Ji has gone to the Secretariat, who should be in charge of the Censorate?"

Zhu Yuanzhang, with his hands behind his back, paced back and forth, saying, "Where can I find a Censor-in-Chief who has made great contributions and is not afraid of powerful figures?"

"Yes."

After hearing this, Zhu Biao understood Zhu Yuanzhang's concerns.

Half of the Ming court was composed of nobles from Huaixi, and the other half of scholars from Zhejiang.

The Secretariat and the Censorate were mutually restraining and opposing entities, and it is indeed inappropriate to conflate them.

"Boss."

"You were born in the first year of the Longfeng era (1355 AD)."

"Hu Weiyong was the least senior among them."

At this point, Zhu Yuanzhang's cloudy eyes filled with reminiscence.

That year, Zhu Yuanzhang captured Hezhou, thus gaining his first real base of operations. He then cleverly seized Caishiji, initiating his strategic plan to cross the Yangtze River, seize Taiping, and advance towards Nanjing. His eldest son, Zhu Biao, was born in the same year.

"Father, has something come to mind?"

Seeing Zhu Yuanzhang lost in his memories, Zhu Biao couldn't help but ask a question.

"I don't know what's wrong with me these days, I keep thinking about the past."

"Hua Yun, Zhu Wenxun, Geng Zaicheng..."

"These people followed me from the very beginning, but they did not live to see the founding of the Ming Dynasty."

Zhu Yuanzhang's face was filled with reminiscence, and his eyes held an indescribable sadness.

Zhu Wenxun was his adopted son, whose talent was no less than that of Li Wenzhong and Mu Ying. In the sixth year of Longfeng (1360), Chen Youliang led a fleet of 100,000 men to invade. Hua Yun, along with Marshal Zhu Wenxun, Prefect Xu Yuan, and Judge Wang Ding, led more than 3,000 men to form a battle formation to meet the enemy. When the city fell, Hua Yun died resisting the attack.

"Father."

"Hua Yun's son, Hua Wei, is being raised in the palace and is 8 years old."

"His father was posthumously granted the title of Marquis of Dongqiu. Should he be demoted one rank and allowed to inherit the title of Earl of Dongqiu?"

"Geng Tianbi, son of Geng Zaicheng, the Duke of Gaoyang, has repeatedly distinguished himself in battle and is now the commander of the Hangzhou Guard."

"Perhaps he could be allowed to inherit the title of Marquis of Gaoyang and enter the Grand General's Office as the Deputy Grand General, a second-rank official."

"I will grant hereditary succession without fail, but will not be granted a certificate of merit or an iron token."

Zhu Biao noticed Zhu Yuanzhang's lingering affection for his old associates and offered his advice accordingly.

"Nobility should not be bestowed lightly."

"He shall hereby bestow upon Hua Wei the hereditary title of Tiger-General of the Hundred Households."

"Geng Tianbi was transferred to the position of Commander of the Left Guard of the Imperial Guard, a hereditary position."

Zhu Yuanzhang rejected Zhu Biao's proposal, refusing to grant him a title and instead bestowing upon him a hereditary official position.

"Yes."

The eunuch immediately responded and went to draft the imperial edict.

"I am getting old and do not want to cause trouble for my old brothers, nor do I want to make your future too difficult."

"As long as they don't go too far, I really don't want to investigate any further."

"Even if it's your old father begging you, isn't that enough?"

"Leave a few people behind, so that in the future, there will be a few to talk with me."

Zhu Yuanzhang spoke in a deep voice, exuding a sense of old age and decline. After a lifetime of fighting, he was finally feeling somewhat weary.

"Father, Father!"

Zhu Biao was moved, unsure how to respond.

"Oh my, he's calling me 'Dad' now."

"Call me 'Dad'."

Zhu Yuanzhang was pleased and asked, "What did Liu Bowen say when you went to see him?"

"call!"

Zhu Biao's lips moved, but he didn't utter a single word.

"You mean it hard to hear?"

"Alright, it's not like I haven't heard any of the harshest things he's said before."

"Speak."

Zhu Yuanzhang was used to Liu Bowen's eccentricities.

Mr. Liu said that the Secretariat was a large coffin.

"Hmph, I knew it."

Before Zhu Biao could finish speaking, Zhu Yuanzhang's face darkened, and he said with displeasure, "These scholars from Zhejiang can't say anything nice."

"Liu Bowen even said that my Fengtian Hall is like a temple."

Mr. Liu also said...

Zhu Biao was about to add something.

"Oh, and there's more."

Zhu Yuanzhang was already getting impatient.

"Mr. Liu also said that Huaixi is a sharp blade; if used to expand territory, it will also harm others and oneself."

"Heh, that sounds like something he would say."

Zhu Yuanzhang chuckled self-deprecatingly: "This Master Liu has always been one to sit back and watch the world go by, letting the clouds drift and gather."

"Today, I'm going to do the opposite of what he wants."

"Father."

Zhu Biao suddenly looked up, thinking that Zhu Yuanzhang was going to cause trouble for Liu Bowen.

"Liu Bowen's eldest son, Liu Lian, was exceptionally talented, and his second son, Liu Jing, was a master of military strategy."

"One scholar and one warrior, truly the style of a noble family in raising their children."

"By imperial decree, Liu Lian is appointed as the Right Chief Secretary of the Prince of Yan's Palace, Zhu Yi as the Left Chief Secretary of the Prince of Yan's Palace, Tao Yu as the Registrar of the Prince of Yan's Palace, and Ye Yongdao, Hu Boji, Zhang Yunzai, and Liu Jing as the Prince of Yan's Study Companions."

Zhu Yuanzhang waved his hand and issued several imperial edicts.

"Yes."

The eunuch responded and left.

"Father."

"Are you trying to sow discord between Fourth Brother and me?"

Zhu Biao was completely numb.

The military region has always been the territory of the nobles of Huaixi, and the greatest opposition to the prince's deployment to the capital came from the nobles of Huaixi.

Zhu Di killed more than a dozen of Lan Yu's adopted sons in Bayanbulage and even became enemies with the powerful nobles of Huaixi.

Currently, the officials appointed by Zhu Yuanzhang to Zhu Di's Prince of Yan's residence, including Liu Lian, Liu Jing, Ye Yongdao, Hu Boji, and Zhang Yunzai, are all from Zhejiang.

Zhu Yi and Tao Yu were the sons of Zhu Sheng and Tao An, respectively. They belonged to Jiangnan, along with Zhejiang East, while Huaixi belonged to Jiangbei.

In this way, all the civil officials in the court who opposed Zhu Di stood behind him, and Zhu Di became a banner against the powerful nobles of Huaixi.

"You little brat, aren't you trying to outsmart me?"

"Perfect, let him share more of the burden with his father."

Zhu Yuanzhang wore a gloating expression, seemingly eager to see Zhu Di suffer a setback.

"Father."

Zhu Biao couldn't help but feel sorry for Zhu Di, who had to shoulder such a heavy responsibility at such a young age.

However, he did not object, because the imperial clan was also an indispensable force in the court, and at the moment only Zhu Di could step forward.

As long as Zhu Di can withstand the targeting of the nobles of Huaixi, they will naturally become his right-hand men in the future.