The Ming Dynasty: The opening scene features Zhu Di angrily accusing him of illegitimate succession.

"They work at sunrise and rest at sunset, but they do not know the methods of farming and weaving. In spring, they only know how to burn the forest to plant seeds. In autumn, the harvest is not enough to fill their stomachs, and in winter they suffer from hunger. They do not know the wisdom of medicine. Seven out of ten children die young, and adults live no more than thirty years. They are plagued by injuries and diseases and can only wait to die!"

How can such a people, struggling to survive and suffering unspeakable hardship, have a nation? How can they have territories?

Lin Yueji pointed at Xie Jin and shouted at him.

"You have no understanding of overseas countries, yet you presume that all overseas countries belong to you. Isn't that ridiculous?"

Most of the land was essentially unclaimed territory, inhabited by uneducated and ignorant people who could barely protect themselves, let alone expand outwards.

After rebuking Xie Jin, Lin Yue bowed to Zhu Di.

"Our Great Ming Dynasty, carrying the teachings of a land of etiquette, travels overseas with a benevolent heart. It is not a matter of plunder, but a matter of redemption!"

Those cannibalistic evil tribes and barbaric chieftains, who brutally rule and enslave the people, treating their fellow human beings as livestock, such people who defy the heavens should be replaced by the Ming Dynasty!

The Ming Dynasty princes resided in the area, teaching the people to distinguish the five grains, weave cloth, cure diseases, and understand human relationships, thus enlightening the ignorant and providing a place for the suffering to live in peace.

How could this not be an act of benevolence and virtue, how could this not be acting on behalf of Heaven, educating and enlightening all subjects? It is the inescapable mission of the Ming Dynasty, and also the responsibility of Your Majesty as the ruler of the world!

"The culture and etiquette of the Ming Dynasty are unparalleled in the world, and the benevolence and virtue of the Ming Dynasty have benefited all directions!" Lin Yue's voice resounded throughout the palace.

"To replace the backward and brutal natives, to save the suffering and ignorant people, and to let the light of civilization illuminate the wilderness—is this a deliberate act of aggression?"

This is clearly a restoration of order, a blessing for all people!

Scholar Xie, ignorant of the realities overseas, makes unwarranted criticisms based on his pedantic Confucian views, only causing the Ming Dynasty to miss a golden opportunity to expand its territory and benefit its people. How is he any different from a frog in a well, stuck in his own narrow-minded ways?

A debate suddenly broke out in the hall, with the two men each sticking to their own version of events. The officials looked astonished and whispered among themselves.

Most civil officials disagreed with both types of enfeoffment. Both Xie Jin and Lin Yue were actually objects of opposition from the civil officials.

However, everyone was still very curious about what Lin Yue had mentioned about things overseas.

They knew that the barbarians overseas were ignorant, but they never imagined they could be this ignorant. There were actually primitive people in this world who ate raw meat and drank blood.

It's hard to imagine, you know?

Zhu Di sat upright on the dragon throne, watching the two arguing, neither speaking to stop them nor expressing his opinion.

In the first year of the Yongle reign, Zhu Di did not formally establish a crown prince, but his three legitimate sons, Zhu Gaochi, Zhu Gaoxu, and Zhu Gaosui, all resided in Nanjing and frequently attended court assemblies.

The eldest son, Zhu Gaochi, as the heir apparent of the Prince of Yan, was always ranked in front of the court officials at court assemblies. The second son, Zhu Gaoxu, as a core meritorious official, stayed in the capital and always attended court assemblies.

The third son, Zhu Gaosui, was simply favored by Zhu Di and often followed him around. In the first year of the Yongle reign, he did not take up his fiefdom but naturally attended the court assembly at Fengtian Gate with his elder brothers.

Zhu Di's gaze swept over the arguing Lin Yue and Xie Jin, and landed on the three young men below the steps, as if deep in thought.

The eldest son, Zhu Gaochi, was obese, quiet and fond of literature, and spoke of benevolence and morality. He was quite good at governing the country and could get very close to the civil official group.

Xie Jin is now advocating for the enfeoffment of officials within the territory to clear obstacles to Zhu Gaochi's succession. Civil officials such as Yang Shiqi and Jian Yi are also often around Zhu Gaochi, responding to each other's needs and forming close ties. It is inevitable that there will be suspicion of the transfer of benefits.

Zhu Di disliked this trend of "civil officials banding together to support the heir apparent" from the bottom of his heart.

In the eyes of the Yongle Emperor, what did those civil officials know about governing the country? If he followed them, he might end up like the Jianwen Emperor.

The second son, Zhu Gaoxu, was the son who most resembled Zhu Di, and even surpassed him in military affairs.

He was strong and skilled in archery, and made many outstanding contributions during the Jingnan Campaign. He was rescued from a desperate situation in the Battle of Baigou River. After the defeat at Dongchang, he led his troops back, killed two enemy generals, and repelled the pursuing troops. He was simply unstoppable and comparable to Xiang Yu in the present day.

Even in governing local areas, Zhu Gaoxu made few mistakes. During the Jingnan Rebellion, his efforts in allocating grain and fodder and pacifying the military and civilians were commendable.

But the Ming Dynasty only needed one capable and warlike emperor. He had spent his life on the battlefield, fighting in the south and the north, and the people were already under too much burden. His successor should prioritize maintaining the status quo and ensuring the well-being of the people, and should not continue to wage war.

Moreover, Zhu Gaochi was known throughout the court and the country for his fierce and unruly nature, and his reputation for being brave and ruthless was well-known. If the throne were passed to him, given his volatile temper, he would inevitably turn against his brothers, and the potential for disorderly succession in the future would be too great. Zhu Di was not a legitimate successor, so he was really worried.

There's not much to say about the third son, Zhu Gaosui. Zhu Di favored him and didn't have many strict requirements for him. He just treated him as an easy-going youngest son. As long as he behaved himself and was granted a wealthy fiefdom in the future, he could live a peaceful life. He never considered him as the heir apparent.

The love of the parents is far-reaching.

The arguments in the court were tiresome, and Zhu Di felt a tightness in his chest as he listened.

The choice of successor, the controversy over enfeoffment, the taxes in various regions, the adjustment of garrisons, and the rewards for meritorious officials—all these things weighed heavily on him, making it hard for him to breathe.

Emperor Yongle then shouted and fled: "Court adjourned!"

Before the court officials could react, he strode towards the back of the palace.

The entire court was stunned, their faces filled with bewilderment.

Just now, Lin Yue was speaking with great enthusiasm, his eyes shining, and one hand resting on his tablet.

They talked at length about overseas affairs, mentioning that fifty-eight watches of water would pass by Wangjin Reef and then another hundred watches would lead to a giant island in the South China Sea!

That island was so big it was boundless, covered in black iron. The natives didn't know how to smelt iron, but they could mine it with stone tools. It was a natural iron island!

Further west lies the land of the Franks, a country with some civility and etiquette, yet deeply mired in the dark rule of religion, where fathers and sons often kill each other and beasts devour people.

And across the ocean, there lies a land of abundant water and lush vegetation. The people there have no horses, no iron tools, and their civilization is primitive, yet they possess a variety of highly productive crops...

The various foreign tales were unheard of, and the officials listened with great interest. Even the usually composed Minister of Personnel, Jian Yi, stroked his beard and listened intently.

Curious, Lin Yue recounted how the natives lived on "Big Iron Island," but His Majesty suddenly adjourned the court, instantly putting him in a bad mood.

"Lin Gejian was getting really into his speech, why did it suddenly break up?"

Some people secretly thought, "His Majesty must have been upset by the dispute over the enfeoffment, which is why he left court so hastily."

Lin Yue also clicked his tongue, feeling quite unhappy.

He hadn't even discussed the value, the intensity, or the ultimate level of his criticism of Zhu Di, so why did he suddenly abdicate?

Xie Jin glanced at him, his face full of disdain, and scoffed, "Nonsense! Where in the world is there some giant iron island? It's nothing but a figment of imagination!"

Lin Yue immediately retorted: "Scholar Xie never leaves Nanjing, so naturally he knows nothing about the world overseas."

Not only does that southern island have iron, but it also has many parrots, hence its ancient name, Parrot Island. There were rumors about it as early as the Southern Song Dynasty; you're just ignorant!

Just as the two were about to argue again, a palace attendant rushed over.

"His Majesty has issued an oral decree summoning Xie Jin and Lin Yue to the palace immediately for a meeting at the Zuoshun Gate!"

Both of them were taken aback. Although they disliked each other, they could only keep quiet for the time being, flick their sleeves, and headed towards the palace together.

Zuoshun Gate is the East Pavilion, where Zhu Di often held meetings to summon his cabinet ministers.