Ming Dynasty: Charge, Emperor Yongle!

The bright moonlight shone on the roof tiles of the post station, turning them into a dazzling silver.

"Your Highness!"

Zhang Wu, the commander of the Prince of Yan's guards, respectfully said, "Li Qianshi has already entered the room."

"Um."

Nodding slightly, Zhu Di said in a solemn voice, "Immediately send people to the various prefectures and counties north of the Yangtze River in Henan."

"Investigate the land holdings of nobles and officials in Huaixi."

"Furthermore, a secret investigation is underway into the collusion between Tu Jie, the Provincial Surveillance Commissioner of Henan, and his corrupt officials who have wreaked havoc on the local area."

"Yes."

Zhang Wu's mind stirred, and he immediately accepted the order.

"Father, you still underestimate me."

Watching him leave, a ruthless glint flashed in Zhu Di's eyes.

Zhu Yuanzhang thought that by summoning Zhu Liangzu back to the capital, the nobles of Huaixi would band together to deal with him, and he would follow Zhu Yuanzhang's plan to rely on the power of Xu Da and Wang Baobao, or win over the literati of Zhejiang, to form a balance of power with Huaixi in the court.

Zhu Yuanzhang was unwilling to be ruthless towards his old brothers, but he was ruthless towards his own son. Did he really think that Zhu Di was a pushover?

The Ming Dynasty inherited the provincial system of the Yuan Dynasty. The Henan Jiangbei Province governed a large area south of the Yellow River and north of the Yangtze River, including present-day central and southern Henan, most of Hubei, and the Jiangbei region of Jiangsu and Anhui. It was densely populated, had fertile land, and was economically prosperous.

Zhu Yuanzhang's hometown, Fengyang, was under the jurisdiction of Henan Jiangbei Province. In the 27th year of the Zhizheng era (1367), Zhu Yuanzhang promoted Haozhou to Linhao Prefecture. In the second year of the Hongwu era (1369), Linhao Prefecture was designated as the Central Capital of the Ming Dynasty.

In order to build the Zhongdu Imperial City, a million artisans and laborers were mobilized, and a large-scale migration and garrison were established. This year alone, 140,000 wealthy people from Jiangnan were relocated, no less than 50,000 troops were stationed, and nearly 200,000 soldiers and their families were stationed. Fengyang quickly formed a situation of "dense population and bustling commerce".

Moreover, starting from the first year of the Hongwu reign, Zhu Yuanzhang issued an edict exempting the Fengyang region from taxes for ten years, carried out large-scale water conservancy projects to control the Huai River floods, expanded official roads, and established more than 20 post stations, which made the court and the public see his concern for Fengyang.

Many of the nobles and officials of Huaixi came from Fengyang. They dared not seize land or impose heavy taxes in Fengyang, but they did not care at all in the Henan-Jiangbei Province.

Kaifeng, in particular, was filled with land owned by nobles, which had practically become their private estate.

The Henan Provincial Surveillance Commissioner was originally an important official in the governor-general's region. However, Tu Jie, who was from Jiangxi, became a disciple of Hu Weiyong and colluded with him. The Censor-in-Chief Chen Ning had a close personal relationship with Hu Weiyong, and they colluded to cover up the darkness beneath the prosperous Henan.

In the original history, Wang Guangyang, the Right Chancellor of the Central Secretariat, was demoted to Guangdong Provincial Councilor for shirking his duties. Hu Weiyong was promoted to Right Chancellor of the Central Secretariat, Chen Ning was summoned by Zhu Yuanzhang to serve as Left Censor-in-Chief, and Tu Jie was promoted to Censor-in-Chief, and their status rose accordingly.

This time, however, Zhu Di was going to expose the truth and make an example of some people to scare others, thus tearing Zhu Yuanzhang's face away.

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

Yingtian Prefecture, the study of the Duke of Wei's mansion.

Xu Da summoned Xu Miaoyun and Boyalun Haibie.

One is a clever and witty female student, and the other is a straightforward and bold princess of Beiyuan. In addition, the two women know each other's identities and will have to see each other frequently in the Yan Prince's mansion in the future. After spending time together, their relationship is very harmonious.

"father."

"Godfather".

Xu Miaoyun and Hai Bie both looked at Xu Da, their beautiful eyes full of questions.

"Hai Bie, your father has already crossed the Yellow River and will arrive in Yingtian Prefecture in the next few days."

Xu Da spoke up.

"Ugh!!!"

Haibie was thrilled upon hearing the news.

After more than four months, she was finally able to see her biological father, Wang Baobao. She had so many grievances to tell him.

"father."

"You're not just talking about this, are you?"

Xu Miaoyun keenly sensed that Xu Da's emotions were not right.

"Today's court meeting discussed the New Year's ceremony of presenting captives at the Imperial Ancestral Temple, which was presided over by the Crown Prince and accompanied by His Highness the Prince of Yan. Some officials in the court had reservations about this."

"His Majesty approved Hu Weiyong's proposal and summoned Zhu Liangzu, the Marquis of Yongjia."

"The Censorate has received numerous memorials impeaching the Prince of Yan for usurping power, but His Majesty has kept them all hidden and has not issued them."

Xu Da spoke slowly, his expression very serious.

What?

Xu Miaoyun's beautiful eyes widened. Although Hai Bie was not as familiar with the politics of the Ming Dynasty as she was, he also realized the risks involved.

It is said that Zhu Liangzu's second son died at the hands of Prince Yan, Zhu Di, and was exiled to the malaria-ridden Lingnan region because of Zhu Di.

Sending such a person back to the capital would undoubtedly create trouble for Zhu Di. Moreover, most of the nobles in Huaixi had been offended by Zhu Di. If they joined forces, how could a single Ming prince possibly stand against them?

"father."

"The Secretariat is fine."

"How could the Censorate do this?"

Xu Miaoyun immediately saw the stakes involved.

Li Shanchang, the Left Chancellor of the Central Secretariat, was the leader of the Huaixi faction. Everyone knew that Hu Weiyong, the Left Chancellor of the Central Secretariat, was Li Shanchang's favorite student. He made connections with officials and nobles all over the court. Almost all the officials in the Central Secretariat came from the Huaixi faction, so they certainly couldn't have any good feelings towards Prince Yan, Zhu Di.

The problem is that the Censorate has always been the private domain of scholars in eastern Zhejiang. The sons of those scholars in eastern Zhejiang have all entered the Prince of Yan's mansion as subordinate officials. Why would they cause trouble for Zhu Di at this time? Have they lost their minds?

"Master Liu is ill at home, and Chen Ning, the current Vice Censor of the Censorate, is from Chaling County, Sha Prefecture, Huguang Province, where he is a high-ranking official."

"In the third year of Hongwu (1370), he was convicted of a crime and demoted to the position of Prefect of Suzhou. He was later reassigned as Vice Minister of Zhejiang, but he did not take office."

"Upon Hu Weiyong's recommendation, he was recalled to serve as Vice Censor-in-Chief."

"Hu Weiyong was like a second parent to him."

"Even if there are dissenting voices within and outside the Censorate, I'm afraid they'll all be suppressed by him."

Xu Da revealed a shocking piece of news: Hu Weiyong's influence had extended from the Secretariat to the Censorate.

"this..."

Xu Miaoyun and Hai Bie stood there, stunned.

"You don't need to worry too much."

"The sky won't fall down, Kuokuo and I will hold it up."

"Besides, this is nothing to that little bastard."

Xu Da raised his hand and said casually.

"Ugh!"

Xu Miaoyun and Hai Bie exchanged a glance, unsure of what to say.

"Eldest daughter."

"Your father didn't call you here today to talk about these things."

"You and Hai are destined to enter the Prince of Yan's mansion. Once you enter the mansion, it's like entering a deep sea. You can't trust anyone in the court or the harem."

Throughout history, the most ruthless have always been those of emperors.

Even Xu Da, who was used to seeing life and death, couldn't help but show a hint of worry in his eyes.

"Father, we understand."

Xu Miaoyun and Hai Bie deeply agreed.

During this period, people from the Eastern Palace, the Qin Prince's Mansion, and the Jin Prince's Mansion frequently visited, and various forces were intertwined.

Just as the Crown Prince's principal wife, Lady Chang, treated them coldly, the Crown Prince's concubine, Lady Lü, constantly extended goodwill. Who knows what was hidden behind this?

"Um."

Xu Da was relieved to see that they understood his meaning.