Ming Dynasty: Charge, Emperor Yongle!

Only Zhu Yuanzhang, Empress Ma, and Zhu Biao were present in the spacious Qianqing Palace.

These three seemingly simple husband, wife, and eldest son represent the pinnacle of power structure in the Ming Dynasty.

"Jupachi."

"What are your thoughts on the fourth brother?"

Empress Ma had shared a bed with Zhu Yuanzhang for many years and was well aware that his move was less about being wary of Wang Baobao and Xu Da, and more about being wary of Zhu Di.

"Woman"

Zhu Yuanzhang stared at Empress Ma and said in a deep voice, "The fourth prince's guards are different from the three guards of a prince."

"The three thousand battalions are all cavalry, an elite assault force that charges and breaks through enemy lines."

"The five military camps were divided into the central army, left flank, right flank, left outpost, and right outpost, forming a core force capable of both riding on horseback and fighting on foot."

"And there's the Shenji Battalion, which even our Ming army doesn't have a dedicated firearms unit."

"If this Prince Yan's guards were placed deep within the capital, even 100,000 men wouldn't be able to hold them off."

Even Tiande praised him as an unparalleled military genius, and he even subdued Wang Baobao.

"What can I offer him as a reward?"

The military achievements of Prince Yan, Zhu Di, far exceeded Zhu Yuanzhang's expectations, causing him to feel a sense of unease.

A prince who was invincible and a crown prince who sat in the center of the court—there have been similar situations in history.

"Jupachi."

"Are you confused?"

"The fourth child is only thirteen years old."

Empress Ma immediately noticed Zhu Yuanzhang's worry and urgently questioned him.

Zhu Biao, who was standing to the side, said, "Father, I raised the fourth prince myself. I know very well what he thinks and does."

"This northern expedition, whether it's establishing two major protectorates or anything else, is all for the sake of the Ming Dynasty."

"I trust the Fourth Prince, but do the civil officials and nobles in the court trust him?"

Zhu Yuanzhang's tone grew increasingly heavy as he revealed another matter: "Tiande adopted Wang Baobao's daughter as his goddaughter. You all think this was Wang Baobao's idea, but no, it was the fourth prince's idea."

"Isn't it a big enough thing that the eldest daughter of the Northern Yuan Qi King married the Prince of Yan of the Ming Dynasty?"

Boom!

This news struck Empress Ma and Zhu Biao like a bolt from the blue.

Xu Da was the number one general in the Ming army, a fact that Chang Yuchun could not change even if he were alive. Wang Baobao was the number one general of the Northern Yuan, a fact that was universally acknowledged. Zhu Yuanzhang praised him as "an extraordinary man of the world."

Both of their eldest daughters married Zhu Di, a powerful backing that even Crown Prince Zhu Biao lacked. If this were to get out, the court would surely be in uproar.

"I intend to bestow upon Wang Baobao the title of Duke of Yuan."

"Wang Baobao's eldest daughter, Boyalunhai, should not be married off to the fourth prince as his principal wife."

"At the same time, the Southern Protectorate was established in Yanbei, similar to the Northern and Northern Protectorates."

"Establish Kaiping Guard, Yingchang Guard, Daning Guard, Quanning Guard, and Chengde Guard."

"The fourth prince will be appointed as the Grand Protector of Southern Mongolia and the military commander of Liaodong and Liaoxi."

In front of Empress Ma and Zhu Biao, Zhu Yuanzhang revealed his plans.

By arranging a marriage for Zhu Di and remotely bestowing upon him the titles of Grand Protector of Southern Mongolia and Governor of Liaodong, an outlet was found for Zhu Di's great achievements.

With Xu Da and Wang Baobao as his fathers-in-law, no matter how much the court officials and the nobles of Huaixi targeted Zhu Di, they couldn't go too far.

"Does Father intend to remove the Duke from command of troops?"

Zhu Biao asked, somewhat puzzled.

"The Grand Commander's Office needs someone to be stationed there."

"The southwest is not yet pacified, so Deng Yu cannot return."

"It's just that Tiande and Wang Baobao are no longer suitable for their positions."

Zhu Yuanzhang listed the current military leaders of the Ming Dynasty one by one. Apart from Duke Wei Xu Da, Duke Cao Li Wenzhong, there were only Duke Song Feng Sheng and Duke Wei Deng Yu. Duke Zheng Chang Mao was all show and no substance, inheriting the title of Duke by virtue of Chang Yuchun's legacy, and was not good enough to be of great use.

"Father intends to reinstate my cousin as head of the Grand Commander's Office, with Feng Sheng assisting?"

Zhu Biao then asked.

"No."

Zhu Yuanzhang shook his head and said solemnly, "Bao'er is still too young."

"He was in charge of the Grand Commander's Office before, but now Feng Sheng has taken control of the entire Grand Commander's Office."

"All the military officers reported below came from Huaixi, which has almost become Huaixi's private territory."

"Feng Sheng committed such a heinous crime, yet he was only given a lenient sentence. How will the people of the world view me?"

"I have decided to appoint Tiande as Grand Commander, and Kuokuo and Bao'er as Left and Right Commanders, to reorganize the affairs of the Grand Commander's Office."

'Thump!'

Zhu Biao felt a jolt of fear.

With Grand Commander Xu Da, Left Grand Commander Wang Baobao, and Right Grand Commander Li Wenzhong, three great dukes presiding over the Grand Commander's Mansion, this configuration was incredibly powerful.

"Jupachi."

"You intend to take back military power?"

Empress Ma immediately realized Zhu Yuanzhang's intentions.

"That brat, the fourth brother, has completely disrupted our carefully planned strategy for the border defense."

"The three major protectorates of Mobei, Beiting, and Monan act as a barrier, protecting the borders of the Ming Dynasty."

"Gansu, Shaanxi, Shanxi, Hebei and other places will no longer be threatened from the north, and the second and third sons will not need to command troops after they take up their fiefs."

"The Prince's Three Guards are merely a means for the prince to deal with unforeseen circumstances, and are not a regular field army."

"Our sons don't even need to lead troops, so why are those old brothers still holding onto military power?"

Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes were dark and deep, making it difficult to discern his emotional changes.

The reason he allowed the princes to lead the troops was to take back the military power from Xun Gui. Now that it is impossible for the princes to lead the troops, he naturally had to use more severe measures to deal with Xun Gui and had to strike hard.

"Boss."

"Have your wife pick out a couple of nice things to give to the second son's family."

Empress Ma suddenly gave Zhu Biao some instructions.

"Mother Empress."

"Consort Lü has informed her son that she has already taken care of this matter."

Zhu Biao answered without hesitation.

"The Lü family."

Empress Ma and Zhu Yuanzhang exchanged a glance, both noticing the surprise in each other's eyes.

"Consort Chang claims to be ill!"

Zhu Biao added a sentence.

"Boss."

Zhu Yuanzhang looked at Zhu Biao with great interest: "Your two wives..."

"Cough cough."

Zhu Biao's expression was somewhat unpleasant. Because of the matter of Lan Yu, Lady Chang was naturally unable to befriend Princess Wang Yuemin of Qin. It was only the Crown Prince's concubine, Lady Lü, who had to handle these matters.

"Alright."

Zhu Yuanzhang waved his hand and ordered, "The fourth prince and his men are about to return to the capital."

"You shall instruct the Ministry of Works to prepare the Prince's Mansion, the Duke's Mansion, and several Marquis's Mansions."

"There's also the presentation of captives at the Imperial Ancestral Temple; you'll be in charge of that."

"Father."

Zhu Biao readily agreed: "I will personally handle this matter and make sure it is a grand affair at the beginning of the year."

"Okay, you can go down now."

Zhu Yuanzhang issued an order to leave, and Zhu Biao left the Qianqing Palace with amusement.

"Jupachi."

"Isn't it a bit unfair to the fourth brother that you're doing this?"

After Zhu Biao left, Empress Ma did not hide her dissatisfaction and questioned him directly.

"Woman"

Zhu Yuanzhang said sternly, "How could we not know that our fourth son has made great contributions? I also feel sorry for my son."

"But this isn't like a landlord dividing his property, where you get a share and I get a share."

"What if we give the fourth brother too much? What will happen to the eldest brother then?"

"........."

Empress Ma fell silent.