Ming Dynasty: Charge, Emperor Yongle!

Chapter 97 The Demonic Monk is Amazed, Yao Guangxiao: The Only True Friend in My Life is the Prince of Yan!

"Old man."

"I'm not trying to mock you, but your methods are still too weak."

Zhu Di shook his head and sneered, "Can we build a powerful empire like the Han and Tang dynasties just by appeasing people with benevolence and virtue?"

"So what do you think we should do?"

Zhu Yuanzhang was not angry, but instead very rationally asked Zhu Di for his opinion.

After these days of conversation, he realized that his fourth son's insights into the general trend of the world and the major military and political affairs far surpassed those of many others, even surpassing those of Crown Prince Zhu Biao, and perhaps even Zhu Di himself.

However, a king who rose from humble beginnings is least concerned about being looked down upon by others, and his greatest strength is his ability to learn.

No matter what, Zhu Di was his son, so it was only natural for a father to use his son's methods.

"If I were you, I would have a sword and a weapon in one hand and an imperial edict in the other."

"First conquer Yunnan, then Annam, and pacify Guizhou; those who disobey will be executed!"

"A policy of separating politics and religion should be adopted in dealing with the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau."

"The emperor appointed the former Yuan Dynasty Imperial Preceptor Nangapa Tsangpo, who had sent envoys to pay homage, as the National Preceptor, bestowed upon him a jade seal, and granted him the authority to govern all religious sects in Tibet."

"Summon Shakya Gyaltsen, the leader of the Phagmodrupa region of U-Tsang (now within the territory of Sangri County, Shannan City), as well as the leaders of Ladakh, Guge, the Qiangtang tribes, and the Xifan tribes to come to the court for an audience. Those who come will be appointed as commanders of the guards, and those who do not come will be subject to an imperial edict to be punished."

"We will concentrate all our forces on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau to besiege the Sakya sect, which was supported by the former Yuan dynasty, in order to determine who is the most loyal subordinate of our Great Ming."

"A high-ranking official was appointed to be stationed in Tibet to coordinate matters concerning the various military commands and guards."

"The Liaodong story should follow the example of the Sui and Tang dynasties, where Goguryeo retreated south of the Daedong River; otherwise, the country would be destroyed and its clan exterminated."

From the cold, dark light, Zhu Di displayed unprecedented aggression towards these inherent lands of China.

The 14th century saw tremendous changes in both the East and the West. The East was entering the peak of its feudal dynasties, while the West was embarking on the Age of Exploration, the emergence of capitalism, and the start of industrialization. This period was also the time when territorial disputes among countries and peoples around the world were most intense.

The advent of firearms will change the previous pattern of warfare. Cavalry will no longer be the decisive force, and the farthest point a country can reach is the railway.

If we do not establish the most stable territorial boundaries for the Ming Dynasty or China now, it will not be so easy to assimilate them in the future.

"We understand."

"Fourth brother, you should go back first."

Zhu Yuanzhang gave Zhu Di a deep look and then ordered him to leave.

"oh."

Zhu Di turned and left without looking back.

"father."

"What the fourth brother said..."

Inside the Fengtian Hall, Crown Prince Zhu Biao watched Zhu Di depart, hesitant to speak.

"I never expected we'd give birth to a wolf cub; it's going to eat meat, isn't it?"

Zhu Yuanzhang exclaimed, "He not only transformed the northern deserts, Beiting, and southern deserts into Chinese territory, but also wanted to integrate the snowy plateau..."

The Heilongjiang River, the Changbai Mountains, Goryeo (Korea), Yunnan, Annam, and other regions all became part of the Ming Dynasty's territory.

"This little brat isn't afraid of overeating himself. He truly deserves to be called the Great General of the Ming Dynasty."

"Boss, with him around, things will be much easier for you from now on."

He saw no desire for the throne in Zhu Di; all he saw was ambition to expand the territory. This was what made Zhu Yuanzhang feel at ease with Zhu Di.

If Zhu Di had shown even the slightest intention to compete with Zhu Biao for the throne, this conversation would not have been able to continue.

"father."

"You've done so much for the fourth brother, aren't you being a little too cruel to him?"

Out of brotherly affection, Zhu Biao couldn't help but feel sorry for Zhu Di.

Zhu Yuanzhang clearly treated Zhu Di as a tool, to be used and then discarded, and he was always wary of Zhu Di.

"Boss."

"You underestimate this brat."

"You think he doesn't know our plans? If he didn't know, he wouldn't have done it."

"The Embroidered Uniform Guard has become a notorious lackey known to everyone in and outside the court. Its infamy is so great that civil and military officials, nobles and relatives all turn pale at the mere mention of its name."

"The fourth brother, who started this, has no intention of stopping. Doesn't he know that doing this will damage his reputation?"

"He knew, of course he knew, but he did this to tell me that he had no interest in the throne."

"Given the merits that the fourth prince has made in the northern desert, we can reward him with anything we want. Are we really going to give up your crown prince position to him?"

"Only when the fourth son becomes so despised by both the court and the public can you, as the eldest brother, feel at ease using him."

"Apart from you and me, anyone who dares to get close to the Prince of Yan is courting death."

Zhu Yuanzhang turned to look at Zhu Biao and said meaningfully.

"Father, son—."

Zhu Biao's lips moved, but he didn't know what to say.

Zhu Yuanzhang patted his shoulder with his large, fan-like hand and encouraged him, "Biao'er, you are the heir apparent, the crown prince, and the successor to the Ming Dynasty. Your talent is no less than that of the fourth prince, and all the court officials are convinced of your abilities."

"Only if you succeed us in ruling the Ming Dynasty can the Ming Dynasty last for thousands of years and surpass the Han and Tang Dynasties."

"Yes, Father, I understand."

"9

Zhu Biao's reluctance towards Zhu Di was immediately banished, replaced by the confidence of the Crown Prince of the Ming Dynasty.

"Go and issue the imperial edict: the grand court assembly at the end of the year requires all officials of the third rank and above in the capital, nobles, and members of the imperial clan to be present."

"This time, I will take back the pardon from Xun Gui in front of the whole world."

Zhu Yuanzhang's face darkened, and he said coldly.

"Um.

Zhu Biao nodded solemnly, got up and left Fengtian Hall.

Forty li outside Taiping Gate lies Qixia Mountain, where a centuries-old temple is hidden, its incense burning continuously.

The black-robed monk Yao Guangxiao sat upright under a golden osmanthus tree in the backyard of Qixia Temple, twirling prayer beads in his hands, chanting Buddhist mantras, and closing his eyes to meditate.

"Tap tap!"

Only when Zhu Di's footsteps approached did he slowly open his eyes and look at this rising prince and cruel official.

"The Demon Monk"

"Judging from your appearance, you seem to be quite comfortable here."

"I've been so busy lately that I've gotten myself into so much trouble."

"Therefore I have come here to seek peace from you."

Zhu Di plopped down on a stone bench and poured himself a cup of tea.

"Your Highness has finally seen things clearly."

Yao Guangxiao spoke calmly and composedly.

"Nothing can be hidden from you."

Zhu Di chuckled wryly and said, "Of my three guards, only the Shenji Battalion remains, stationed on the east bank of Xuanwu Lake, to test newly made firearms for the Firearms Bureau."

"His Majesty has assigned the meritorious officials of Huaixi to sixteen provinces, appointing them as military commanders in any of them."

"Most of the 16 generals with titles in the capital army came from Huaixi and were all rising stars. Lan Yu stood out and was awarded the title of General Longxiang."

"The old man's trusted generals were appointed as commanders in Luanzhou Guard and Jizhou Guard in Hebei."

"Once I take up my fief, besides remotely controlling the Southern Protectorate, I will only have 16800 guards under my command."

"As expected."

Yao Guangxiao picked up the teapot and poured Zhu Di another cup.

Zhu Yuanzhang, the founding emperor of the Ming Dynasty, was a peasant at heart. He valued the eldest son's succession and preferred to follow the rules. No matter how many merits Zhu Di made, he could not erase the fact that he was the emperor's fourth son. This identity brought not only glory but also natural fear.

There are no fathers and sons in the imperial family, and there is absolutely no affection between them!

"The old man asked about the state of the world today."

"I gave him an idea: Yunnan, Annam, and Liaodong must all be attacked."

"A combination of suppression and appeasement was used in Guizhou, Tibet, and Korea."

"These strategies were proposed by me. Without my participation, they would only be laughable."

What do you think?

Zhu Di posed the most crucial question; the bait had been laid, and now it was up to Zhu Yuanzhang to take it.

"Your Highness has made a brilliant move."

Yao Guangxiao's eyes gleamed as he praised, "The Embroidered Uniform Guard investigated and punished six marquises in Huaixi. Their demotion to local posts is not a sign of being given important responsibilities, but rather a way to distance themselves from the center of the court. This shows that His Majesty has begun to distrust them."

"Compared to Liaodong, the southwest problem is more urgent."

"At the beginning of the year, the Duke of Wei led his troops to pacify the various tribes in western Hunan, which shows that the power of the Tusi (chieftains) is deeply rooted and they may make a comeback."

"The Duke of Wei's achievements overshadow the emperor's; His Majesty certainly cannot allow him to lead the army."

"With the newly surrendered Duke of Yuan, and the faction of the Prince of Liang of Yuan entrenched in Yunnan, who wouldn't worry that the two would collude?"

"The Duke of Cao is both a nobleman and a member of the imperial clan, so it's inevitable that he will attract criticism."

"As for the Duke of Song, the events in Hexi are still fresh in his mind. How can things be calmed down in a few years?"

"The Prince of Qin is getting old and will soon be enfeoffed. The Duke of Wei is the Prince of Qin's father-in-law. His Majesty will surely send him to the northwest to oversee the border, to command the guards of Xining Prefecture and Lanzhou, and gradually eliminate the Mongol Yuan forces entrenched on the snowy plateau."

"Training the capital army will take time, and the only one who can set off is Your Highness."

"The Shenji Battalion can also exert amazing power in the jungles of the southwest."

"Since Your Highness has chosen this path, then you might as well go all the way and make the Great General King deeply rooted in people's hearts."

"7

"The monk indeed shares my views!"

Zhu Di said firmly, "Only those with strong fists have a voice. Hiding here in the capital, ignored by everyone, do you think a pie will fall from the sky?"

"Only through military merit can I win the support of the army and cultivate a loyal following."

"A good saying: only those with strong fists have the right to speak."

Yao Guangxiao slammed his hand on the table and exclaimed in approval; these words had truly touched his heart.

All talk of imperial lineage and the Son of Heaven is nonsense. Whoever has the army and the strongest fist is the emperor.

The reason he bet on Zhu Di was because he saw Zhu Di's fearless and unruly nature.

"The Demon Monk"

"Did you gain anything from your trip to Liu Bowen's residence?"

"Your Highness."

Yao Guangxiao stroked his beard, looking confident, and said, "Everything is under control."

"The current emperor has mixed feelings about the scholars of Zhejiang. He likes them because they are virtuous and talented, and even the Yuan court entrusted them with important positions."

"What I hate is that they act without fear of imperial power, and they have a certain kind of pedantry about them."

"The reason why the Huaixi faction is so powerful is simply because they are loyal ministers who followed His Majesty."

"Li Shanchang, Hu Weiyong, and others may not have made any great contributions, but they certainly put in a lot of hard work, and they are in the same lineage as the meritorious officials of Huaixi."

"Master Liu originally intended to retire and return to his hometown, but His Majesty sent someone to invite him back to the capital, where he was neglected for a long time."

"If it weren't for the Crown Prince's frequent visits, I'm afraid I would have long since lost all hope."

"We are just waiting for His Majesty to issue an edict in court to reinstate Master Liu, and Master Liu will naturally make his choice."

"Parents who love their children plan far ahead for them. He may not care about the power of Huaixi, but he cannot care about what will happen after he is gone. Besides, the two sons of the Earl of Chengyi have already become officials under the Prince of Yan."

"That's good."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Di's eyes flickered as he pondered to himself.

He has no shortage of generals under his command; the core team from the Jingnan Campaign has been almost entirely assembled. Once Zhang Yu and the others are trained, leading troops into battle will be a piece of cake. The only thing he lacks is civil officials. Governing the southern desert and even Liaodong requires the help of civil officials.

Liu Bowen is not the key figure; the key figure is the literati of eastern Zhejiang who stood behind him, or rather, the entire Jiangnan scholar community.

Since the eastward migration of the Han Chinese, northern gentry frequently moved south. By the Southern Song Dynasty, Jiangnan had become the most important cultural center of China. After the Mongols entered the Central Plains, they followed the example of the Tang and Song Dynasties, established the imperial examination system, and selected Han Chinese officials, mostly employing scholars from Jiangnan.

These people had many complaints about Zhu Yuanzhang. They were unwilling to contribute in the early days of the Ming Dynasty. Now that they saw the Ming Dynasty was at its zenith and were eager to make a move, Zhu Yuanzhang refused to use them. Zhu Biao's Eastern Palace was full of important court officials, so it was difficult for them to have a place.

The northern population is dwindling and the land is in ruins, so there is an urgent need for a large number of officials to serve in the local areas. In the future, the construction of academies and the consolidation of rule will also require these scholars.

Zhu Yuanzhang's fear of civil officials was no less than that of military generals. He guarded against them strictly and even caused the North-South Examination Case in order to balance the North and South. This measure directly led to the abnormal ecology that had been nurtured in the Ming Dynasty for three hundred years. The Eight Great Families of Shanxi Merchants, the Donglin Party, and the collusion between officials and merchants all sold the Ming Dynasty to the Manchus.

In his view, there was a difference among civil officials: people like Liu Bowen cared about official positions, while the Huaixi Party members cared about practical benefits.

The imperial court needs many forces to check and balance each other; it must not allow any one force to become too powerful.

The Jiangnan region not only boasts a rich cultural heritage, but also a large population and a thriving economy—resources that the North desperately needs.

After taking up his fief in Beiping, Zhu Di's most important task was to recover and develop the north, which inevitably required the assistance of the Jiangnan region.

Moreover, the Jiangnan region was the most suitable place to start the Ming Dynasty's great age of exploration. It had people, money, and culture. Zhu Di would fill the gap in courage. Couldn't a Jiangnan version of the East India Company emerge?

"Your Highness."

"In my humble opinion, the most important thing right now is the Embroidered Uniform Guard."

"The Embroidered Uniform Guard is a weapon that Your Highness can wield."

Yao Guangxiao advised.

Zhu Di had no authority to expand the army, nor did he hold any official position; all he had was jurisdiction over the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

The Embroidered Uniform Guard was the emperor's henchman, which meant that its existence was very special. It was not only the emperor's ears and eyes, but also a sharp blade hanging over the heads of the officials.

If Zhu Di could seize this opportunity and extend his power throughout the Embroidered Uniform Guard, the Embroidered Uniform Guard would be the most important step in Zhu Di's future strategy.

"I understand what you mean."

Zhu Di understood the importance of the Embroidered Uniform Guard better than he did, and he knew that now was the best time.

Despite Zhu Yuanzhang's current reliance on the Embroidered Uniform Guard, as its power continues to expand, Zhu Yuanzhang will inevitably worry that his successor will be unable to control it. Crown Prince Zhu Biao's aversion to the Embroidered Uniform Guard is almost blatant, which is the potential crisis.

Therefore, Zhu Yuanzhang would likely abolish the Embroidered Uniform Guard as he grew older, just like in the original historical account.

At that time, these vicious dogs of the Embroidered Uniform Guard will turn their hatred towards the emperor and will surely be used by him.

Therefore, he wanted to seize the moment and leave his mark on the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

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