Ming Dynasty: Charge, Emperor Yongle!

Chapter 92 Hongwu teaches his son: The most powerful man in the Ming Dynasty is the fourth prince!

"father!"

"The southwest and Liaodong regions are not yet pacified."

"The countries of Ü-Tsang, Döghan, Champa, Guge, Korea, Japan, and Ryukyu are all observing the situation."

"At this juncture, allowing the fourth prince to act freely is a different matter. The civil officials are secondary; these nobles have considerable influence in the military and could shake the very foundation of the Ming Dynasty. What should we do then?"

Not long after Zhu Di left, Zhu Biao couldn't help but complain.

In the third year of the Hongwu reign, the Ming Dynasty conferred titles upon six dukes, twenty-eight marquises, and two earls. Apart from Li Shanchang, the Duke of Han, only Liu Ji (Liu Bowen), the Earl of Chengyi, and Wang Guangyang, the Earl of Zhongqin, were civil officials; the rest were all military generals.

These people were soldiers from Huaixi who followed Zhu Yuanzhang in conquering the country. Their influence spread throughout the army, intertwined and deeply rooted.

The Ming Dynasty had not yet conquered the surrounding barbarians; it was surrounded by wolves, and if the army made a mistake, it would cause serious problems.

"Boss."

"Don't you understand yet?"

Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes were sharp as he spoke in a deep voice.

"father?"

Zhu Biao looked surprised and doubtful; he didn't understand what Zhu Yuanzhang was talking about.

"You only know about the merits of Huaixi, but you've forgotten who the strongest force in the court and the army is."

"Tang He, Mu Ying, Xu Da, Wang Baobao and others would not openly side with Lao Si, but they could not ignore the fact that Lao Si was assassinated."

"The Northern Protectorate, the Northern Court Protectorate, and the Southern Protectorate control the northern border of the Ming Dynasty. These powerful generals are far more formidable than Zhu Liangzu and his men. How can ordinary garrison soldiers compare to their 14 elite border troops?"

"If the fourth brother doesn't act up today, the people's hearts will be in turmoil, and everyone will see him as an easy target."

"At that time, how can the border troops of Mobei, Beiting, and Monan be convinced by him?"

"Do you think the Prince of Yan's guards are just sitting around doing nothing?"

"The most powerful person in the Ming Dynasty right now is not Xun Gui of Huaixi, but your fourth brother in front of you."

Zhu Yuanzhang sighed softly; he had never imagined that such an anomaly would appear among his sons.

The rise of Prince Yan, Zhu Di, has changed the landscape of the Ming Dynasty, affecting the army and local areas. From Henan to Yingtian Prefecture, every step was planned by Zhu Di, yet Zhu Yuanzhang had to accept it. He could not find a better way to govern the country than Zhu Di.

What he didn't know was that Zhu Di, standing on the foundation laid by later generations and looking down upon five thousand years of Chinese history, formulated the most appropriate strategies for the present Ming Dynasty, naturally demonstrating foresight and vision.

"I..."

Only now has Zhu Biao truly realized that Zhu Di is no longer the little brother following behind him, but the pillar of the Ming Dynasty.

"you're right."

"The countries of Tibet, Gan, Qiangtang, Goryeo, Japan, and Ryukyu were indeed hidden dangers to the Ming Dynasty."

"But they are also the source of the military achievements of our proud and fierce generals of the Great Ming Dynasty."

"Your subordinate Lan Yu, and the several adopted sons I summoned today, all recommended by the Fourth Prince."

"If we don't suppress Zhu Liangzu and his ilk, how will these people be promoted to high positions?"

Zhu Yuanzhang gently and kindly instructed Zhu Biao, teaching him the art of being an emperor step by step.

No matter which wave of nobles and court officials rule this land, it will ultimately belong to the Zhu family.

"My son understands."

Zhu Biao was a man of few words, and today's conversation could be said to have greatly overturned his thinking, after all, he was only 18 years old. (Cheng Yi Earl's Mansion, Hall)

"So the rumors circulating that Prince Yan disguised the witness Tie Xuan as a young novice monk are also unrelated to you?"

Liu Bowen spoke sharply and coldly, loudly questioning Yao Guangxiao.

"Master, come here, come here."

Yao Guangxiao ignored him and poured Liu Bowen a cup of tea.

"Stop pretending you're confused, okay? You're definitely involved in this."

Liu Bowen was so anxious that he picked up his teacup and poured the scalding tea onto the ground, staring intently at the black-robed monk in front of him.

Others may not know Yao Guangxiao, but how could he not? Yao Guangxiao was born in Changzhou (now Suzhou, Jiangsu Province). His family had been practicing medicine for generations, but he was an anomaly. He became a monk at the age of twelve and later studied military strategy and divination under a Taoist priest. He was also well-versed in Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism. His dragon-slaying skills were so great that even Liu Bowen was wary of him.

At this very moment, a great uproar was raging in the capital. Yao Guangxiao's presence here made it hard for him not to be suspicious.

"If the Master says it exists, then it exists."

"7

O

Yao Guangxiao's expression froze, and he poured him another cup of tea.

"well!!!"

Liu Bowen sighed and said helplessly, "I say, Daoyan, you are a monk, you should be praying for the people and for peace and prosperity for the country."

"The world has only been at peace for a few years now; let's not cause any more trouble."

"Master, you overestimate this humble monk. I have simply grown tired of this wandering life and have found a place to stay."

Yao Guangxiao smiled but didn't respond.

place?"

Liu Bowen looked Yao Guangxiao up and down and guessed, "You're not talking about the Prince of Yan, are you?"

"Yes, the young Prince Yan has granted me the position of chief monk of the Prince Yan's residence, considering my profound knowledge of Buddhist teachings."

Yao Guangxiao's casual remark caused Liu Bowen's expression to change drastically.

The fame of Zhu Di, the Prince of Yan, was unprecedented in history. His actions and thoughts were unpredictable. Yao Guangxiao was not a proper monk to begin with, but he had learned the art of slaying dragons. If these two got together, wouldn't the world be in chaos?

"The Way of Evolution".

"What exactly do you want to do?"

Liu Bowen's expression was more solemn than ever before as he stared at Yao Guangxiao.

"Master."

"Is the Ming Dynasty truly peaceful and stable? I don't think so."

"Internally, there is a malignant tumor; externally, there are enemies."

"In my humble opinion, if the Prince of Yan is not a pillar of the Ming Dynasty, then he is the root of its calamity."

Yao Guangxiao slowly picked up his teacup and took another sip.

"Are you choosing the Prince of Yan?"

Liu Bowen stared intently at the black-clad monk.

"Among His Majesty's sons, His Highness the Crown Prince is benevolent and has ruled for many years. His wisdom and virtue are known throughout the court and the country."

"Although the two kings of Qin and Jin are older, they have not yet taken up their fiefs. They only have 16800 guards under their command. This guard of the princes is trained by the court and its generals are all promoted from the Ministry of War. Rather than being a guard of the princes, it is more like a talisman given by the current emperor to his sons."

"With the northern deserts, Beiting, and Hexi all recovered, and Shaanxi and Shanxi free from external threats, the two kings have no room to maneuver."

"Only His Highness Prince Yan, stationed in Beiping, commands the military affairs of southern Mongolia and Hebei, directly confronting the remnants of the Yuan forces in Liaodong. Nahachu's more than 200,000 Yuan troops are entrenched between the Black Water and the White Mountains, eyeing the Ming Dynasty with predatory intent, and are already the greatest threat to the north of the Ming Dynasty."

"Goryeo and Fusang, which are separated from Shandong by the sea, are both tributary states of China. Your Majesty would certainly like to bring them under your control."

"The powerful and influential people of Huaixi are wreaking havoc on the local area. Compared to His Highness Prince Yan, their arrogant and fierce troops are difficult to control."

"Your Majesty's decision to allow Prince Yan to establish the Embroidered Uniform Guard has a deeper meaning; surely you are aware of it, Master?"

"Of course I know."

Liu Bowen said urgently, "The one who ascends to the throne is an unparalleled hero, incomparable to Qin Shi Huang, Emperor Wu of Han, Emperor Taizong of Tang, and Emperor Taizu of Song."

"His decisiveness surpasses that of emperors throughout history, and he will never be swayed by his ministers."

"Hu Weiyong and his ilk are burying their heads in the sand; it is only because His Majesty has emboldened them that they are being brought to their knees. If we are to destroy them, we must first drive them mad."

"His Majesty appointed us, descendants of scholars from Zhejiang, as officials in the Prince of Yan's court, simply to use the Prince of Yan to check the increasingly rampant Huaixi faction in the court."

"The Prince of Yan is of noble birth and will never be harmed. We are different; we are mere mortals. How can we participate in such a struggle?"

"Do you know that by choosing the Prince of Yan, you have chosen a path of no return?"

Everyone in the court and among the people knows that Crown Prince Zhu Biao is deeply favored by the Emperor, and throughout history, only this heir apparent has such a stable position.

At this time, Yao Guangxiao went to serve the Prince of Yan with the Dragon-Slaying Technique, which was obviously like throwing an egg against a rock.

Zhu Yuanzhang was a monarch who treated people differently based on their status. He would use the Prince of Yan, but he wouldn't give the Prince of Yan everything he deserved. This was destined from the very beginning.

"Master."

Yao Guangxiao shook his head and said slowly, "What makes us human is that we don't know what the heavens are."

"Whether an accident or tomorrow will come first, neither you nor I can be sure."

"His Highness the Prince of Yan was already a Grand General at the age of thirteen."

"Neither Huo Qubing nor Emperor Taizong of Tang could do this."

"The shadows of Fusu of Qin, Liu Ju of Han, and Li Chengqian of Tang can all be found in the current crown prince."

"When Your Majesty was still the King of Wu, the Crown Prince was already the heir apparent of the King of Wu. He studied the classics under Song Lian and received careful instruction from a young age."

"In the first month of the first year of Hongwu (1368), His Majesty appointed him as Crown Prince and entrusted him with the responsibility of overseeing the country and assisting in governing. It has been five years since then."

"With the Crown Prince on the throne, all the princes submitted to him, and everyone in the court and the country praised his wisdom and virtue. He was so busy day and night, exhausting his energy to manage the government."

"This humble monk observes that he is precocious but destined to die young."

What?

Upon hearing this, Liu Bowen's eyes widened in shock.

If Crown Prince Zhu Biao were to die young, His Majesty would be burying his son, and the Ming Dynasty would likely be plunged into bloodshed.

"The Master had two sons; the elder studied literature, and the younger was fond of martial arts."

"The court is controlled by the Huaixi faction, and the Chengyi Earl's Mansion has long been a thorn in their side."

"His Majesty's decision to appoint the Master's eldest son as the Right Chief Secretary of the Prince of Yan's Palace and his second son as his study companion was, in effect, giving the Master a way out."

"In your later years, would the Huai-Xi faction possibly show compassion to your two sons and allow them to enter officialdom?"

Yao Guangxiao offered a meaningful reminder.

"call!!!"

Liu Bowen took a deep breath, his mood becoming unusually heavy.

Although Crown Prince Zhu Biao held him in high esteem, the nobles of Huaixi had always regarded him as a thorn in their side.

Once he passes away, his eldest son will inherit the title of Earl of Chengyi, and his second son will join the army. Both will be subject to the control of the Huaixi faction and will face great difficulties.

This is the reality he has to face.

"Master."

"Your two sons are not the only officials under the Prince of Yan."

"There are also the sons of Mr. Fenglin (Zhu Sheng), Duke Gudun (Tao An), Mr. Sunzhai (Zhang Yi), Earl of Jinyun (Hu Shen), and Marquis of Nanyang (Ye Chen)."

"Don't let small things cause you to lose big."

Out of consideration for their friendship, Yao Guangxiao couldn't help but say a few more words, trying to enlighten Liu Bowen.

With the Crown Prince far away and the officials in the Eastern Palace mostly being important ministers in the court, Liu Bowen couldn't even ask them to take care of his son.

In contrast, the Prince of Yan rose from humble beginnings and was surrounded by military generals. If any son of a civil official were to join him, he would certainly regard him as a close confidant.

"Let me think about it some more."

Liu Bowen's expression shifted between light and dark as he replied.

"Fine."

"It's getting late, this humble monk will take his leave!"

Seeing that the conversation had come to an end, Yao Guangxiao got up and left.

After he left, Liu Bowen did not move, remaining lost in thought and remaining silent for a long time.

The rear hall of the Prince of Qin's residence.

"The Embroidered Uniform Guard, established by the Prince of Yan, has swept through the entire capital."

"They are the most arrogant and domineering in Yingtian Prefecture today, and they are also the most courteous."

Wang Yuemin smiled faintly, her words laced with unspoken sarcasm.

The Imperial Guard Commandery and the Imperial Ceremonial Guard were both integrated into the Embroidered Uniform Guard. The Embroidered Uniform Guard was not only the emperor's personal guard, but also his personal guard.

"Princess."

"The Embroidered Uniform Guards are impenetrable, like the orphans of Emperor Zhu's imperial guards."

"Most of those selected are either descendants of martyrs from the Imperial Guard or from respectable families whose household registration can be traced back three generations."

son. "

"Each person selected must be verified by the Yingtian Prefecture, then handed over to the Ministry of War for inspection, and finally approved by the Prince of Yan."

Ulan Tuya felt a chill run down her spine when she mentioned the Embroidered Uniform Guard. Such a tight-knit espionage organization was far superior to that of the scouts and military commanders.

"How many days has it been since the letter to my brother was sent?"

Wang Yuemin showed no interest in the Embroidered Uniform Guard, but instead inquired about another matter.

"It's been almost half a month."

"The Duke of Yuan's mansion has not replied, nor has it sent anyone."

"I heard that in the past few days, the procession of people delivering betrothal gifts to the palace has been as long as a dragon."

Former officials of the Yuan Dynasty, both inside and outside the court, came to visit him with gifts, which the prince accepted in full.

"Princess, do you think the Prince has forgotten about you?"

Ulan Tuya couldn't help but feel sorry for Wang Yuemin. It was Wang Baobao who left Wang Yuemin in the Ming Dynasty back then. He was in charge of the southern room of the scouts and had been gathering military intelligence for countless years to support the Northern Yuan's actions.

Now that Wang Baobao has surrendered to the Ming Dynasty, he has ignored Wang Yuemin and turned a blind eye to her, as if his own sister had died. How cruel!

"Hai Bie married the Prince of Yan, and the north side of the house probably received her dowry."

"The south-facing house I own is nothing but a double-edged sword; it's tasteless to throw away, but a pity to keep it!"

"Zhu has always disliked my origins from the grasslands. If my brother sends people here in a big way, it will only make my situation in the Prince of Qin's mansion more difficult."

"Furthermore, my brother has already sided with the Prince of Yan. Consort Deng of the Prince of Qin's mansion is the daughter of the Duke of Wei. The nobles of Huaixi and the Prince of Yan are like fire and water."

"The best course of action now is to remain unchanged in the face of all changes; no reply is precisely the best news."

Wang Yuemin saw things more clearly than anyone else: the current situation in the Ming Dynasty was very delicate, involving the Prince of Yan, Huaixi, the Emperor, and the Crown Prince.

Officials from various factions in eastern Zhejiang and the former Yuan dynasty were engaged in a power struggle; whoever revealed a weakness first would be defeated.

"Princess."

"Emperor Zhu summoned the Prince of Qin to the palace today."

"After returning to his residence, the Prince of Qin ordered that you no longer be detained, and that all your food be provided in accordance with that of the Empress Consort."

"It's rather surprising that even the Deng family no longer comes to swagger around."

Ulan Tuya said with a worried expression.

"I see."

Wang Yuemin's once bright eyes had become very dim. She blinked but didn't say anything more.

"well!!!"

Seeing this, Ulan Tuya could only sigh.

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