Daming: Brother, there is no future for monks, let's rebel

Meanwhile, on the other side of the imperial city, the Crown Prince's residence was brightly lit.

Zhu Biao stood before the desk, his robes draped over his shoulders. Beside him stood Vice Minister Wang and Attendant Cao, both with solemn expressions.

“Your Highness, the former subordinates of the Duke of Wei have been frequently visiting the post station recently, and several retired captains have even gathered in the market and taverns. I am worried…” Minister Wang lowered his voice, “this may be an excuse to gather a crowd.”

Zhu Biao lowered his eyes and remained silent, tapping the jade table with his fingers. After a moment, he spoke: "This man once commanded a million soldiers. Although he had merits, he was also very selfish."

Cao, the official, interjected: "After the Zhang An incident, the Crown Prince's prestige rose sharply. Wei Gong's former subordinates may have become wary and recklessly stirred up the army's morale, as if they were testing the Crown Prince's bottom line."

Zhu Biao shook his head: "No, they're not testing me, they're placing a bet."

"Bet?" The two looked at each other in bewilderment.

"Is the throne still in my hands?" Zhu Biao's gaze was sharp, and his tone was cold. "After Zhang An was deposed, everyone could see that Father Emperor did not speak again. He neither pursued the Eastern Depot further nor summoned me for instructions. He left things open—allowing everyone to panic."

Wang Shilang seemed to be thinking: "This... is exactly the same as what the Imperial Uncle said before."

Zhu Biao paused, then suddenly looked up and said, "Send a message to my uncle, saying that I will personally visit him after the morning court session tomorrow to seek his advice on the strategy of 'checking and balancing the power of aristocratic clans'."

The next morning, with frost covering the ground, Zhu Biao indeed ended the court meeting early, left the palace in his cloak, and went straight to Zhu Han's residence.

Zhu Han had been waiting for them. The two entered the room and faced each other. Zhu Biao got straight to the point:
"Uncle, the Duke of Wei's mansion wants to mobilize troops. If I don't move, they will become arrogant; if I do move, I fear the whole court will talk about me and become wary, wanting to get rid of the veteran general. This situation is difficult to resolve."

Zhu Han did not answer, but instead asked, "If I were to personally lead an expedition against the Duke of Wei, would you dare?"

Zhu Biao's eyes widened in surprise: "A personal expedition?"

Zhu Han walked slowly to the table, took out a map, and spread it on the table: "The Duke of Wei is a meritorious official. Although he has retired, he has not forgotten his power. If someone from the Eastern Palace goes to the military region under the guise of training and recruiting soldiers, he will actually take over the power to mobilize troops. If you go in person, you will first quell his ambitions, and secondly, take control of his power."

Zhu Biao pondered for a moment: "In that case, it's worth a try."

Zhu Han gently shook his head: "Test? Do you think this is a game of chess? This is a battle of wits. If you are not careful, you will be accused of murdering a minister and forcing merit. If you really want to go, you can't just appease the old guard. You have to win their hearts, the court officials' opinions, and the people's eyes."

His gaze turned cold as he slowly said, "This campaign will be your first time leading troops, going on an expedition, mobilizing forces, and establishing authority since you became the crown prince. If you fail to win, your position will be in grave danger."

Zhu Biao took a deep breath: "If I do not win, I will never retreat."

Zhu Han looked at him, nodded, and then his tone suddenly changed: "Then go. I will have someone arrange in advance the inventory of the Yellow Register, the handover of the flags, and the change of training for the old troops. But after this, you will no longer be the Crown Prince who only knows how to study."

He put away the map, his tone becoming serious: "You will become the Crown Prince of the Ming Dynasty, capable of ruling the world."

Zhu Biao rose, cupped his hands in a bow, and said, "I will remember your teachings, Imperial Uncle. If this mission fails, I am not worthy to be called a son of the Zhu family."

Three days later, Crown Prince Zhu Biao personally went to the southwest military training ground to conduct a flag-raising ceremony and train the troops in the name of the crown prince.

Xu Ang, the heir apparent and son of the Duke of Wei, personally greeted him with a beaming smile, but his words subtly tested him:

"His Highness the Crown Prince's presence is a great honor for the army, but... with winter approaching, the troops may not be able to train as usual."

Zhu Biao smiled and nodded, replying softly, "I am not here for training, but to select generals."

Xu Ang was stunned: "Pick...to?"

Zhu Biao turned to look at the entire camp of soldiers and said loudly, "The Ming Dynasty needs generals who are good at fighting. If the old generals are capable, I will respect them; if they are not, even if they are veterans of a hundred battles, they must step aside."

Before he could finish speaking, someone behind him presented him with paper and pen, and the notice was immediately posted:
Ten capable generals were selected and transferred to the inner camp, where they were personally instructed in military strategy; those who failed to train or were negligent were demoted and sent back to farming, never to be employed again.

This move enraged the Duke of Wei's mansion, while stirring up strong emotions within the army.

Several young generals volunteered and entered the camp that very night for drills.

Three days later, Zhu Biao personally set up a challenge and selected his generals to compete.

Although he had no military achievements, he was well-versed in military strategy and commanded the troops on the spot with great skill. He repeatedly deployed troops and set up formations, breaking through the old camp's defenses in three places, forcing Xu Ang to personally step in to relieve the siege.

At this point, the army's morale had turned to the Crown Prince, and even the former generals dared not speak recklessly.

Afterwards, Zhu Biao personally wrote a memorial to the throne:
"There are more than 500 men still available in the old camp, but the rest are all old and decrepit. I request that they be dismissed and replaced with new and capable men. I also request that His Majesty issue an edict to establish the Crown Prince's Guard Office for deployment purposes."

Upon hearing this report, Zhu Yuanzhang pondered for a long time before finally writing four words: "Good, may be done."

That morning, Zhu Han changed into plain clothes and, accompanied by only one person, quietly entered Xihua Ward.

This place is an old neighborhood in the capital, rarely frequented by dignitaries, yet it is bustling with people, its shops closely packed together, exuding a strong sense of local life.

He walked into a calligraphy shop, and the shopkeeper glanced at him and quickly greeted him with a smile: "Would you like paper, or a writing brush and inkstone, sir?"

Zhu Han didn't answer, but whispered, "Is 'Hongni' still there?"

Upon hearing this, the shopkeeper's expression hardened. He glanced at the shopkeeper for a moment, then answered in a low voice, "The third door in the upper room of the attic."

Zhu Han nodded and slowly climbed the stairs.

Pushing open the door, the room is furnished in a very simple manner, with withered bamboo rustling outside the window.

A middle-aged woman, dressed simply, was grinding ink and writing talismans, her brows furrowed in thought. Seeing him enter, she showed no surprise, only saying:
"Your Highness has finally arrived."

Zhu Han chuckled and closed the door: "So you knew all along."

"If I didn't know, how could I dare leave this mess unattended?"

The woman put down her pen, looked up at him, and said, “Three years ago, you arranged for me to go into the marketplace, saying you wanted me to investigate the ‘lifeline’. I guessed that you were laying the groundwork for the future. Now that the Crown Prince is establishing his authority and the nobles are restless, you are here, which means… you know that someone is going to touch the ‘lifeline’.”

Zhu Han slowly sat down and said in a deep voice, "The struggle for military power is not over yet. Next, we will focus on the grain supply, finances, canal transport, and the Ministry of Revenue—these are the real lifelines."

The woman frowned: "Who do you want me to investigate?"

Zhu Han whispered three names.

The woman paused, a flicker of shock crossing her eyes: "The three of them... one is a clerk in the Secretariat, one is a former official in the Ministry of Works, and the other is a minor official in the Ministry of Personnel. None of them are particularly noteworthy."

Zhu Han said calmly, "Only by being inconspicuous can we dare to use our true strength."

He took out a list from his pocket and whispered, "Over the past five years, they have established private estates in Luoyang, Yangzhou, and Daming Prefecture, and have all been secretly colluding with several dismissed nobles. I don't believe there's no connection behind this."

The woman took it, glanced through it briefly, and nodded: "I understand. This is the second round."

"It's also the most difficult game." Zhu Han said slowly, "In this game, there are no soldiers, no generals, and no battle formations, but if you lose, your foundation will be destroyed, and if you win, your foundation will be solidified."

The woman paused for a moment, then chuckled softly, "You're laying the foundation for Zhu Biao."

Zhu Han's expression changed slightly. He looked at her for a long time before suddenly saying, "I will lay the foundation for the Zhu family."

Meanwhile, at the Crown Prince's Eastern Palace.

Gu Qingping was tidying up Zhu Biao's clothes for the morning court session.

Her gaze was focused, her touch gentle. Zhu Biao looked at her and suddenly asked:

"You mean... is my uncle hiding something from me?" Gu Qingping raised her eyes and smiled: "Why do you say that, Your Highness?"

Zhu Biao said in a deep voice, "Since I went to war, he has only exchanged one concise secret letter with me, and he did not summon me to discuss matters after returning to the capital. Given his nature, it is not indifference, but deliberate."

Gu Qingping thought for a moment and replied in a low voice, "Perhaps it's because you're already capable of handling things on your own, and your uncle wants you to deal with the situation independently."

Zhu Biao remained silent.

He wasn't unaware of Zhu Han's good intentions—precisely because the Crown Prince was becoming more stable and had just begun to wield power, he could no longer rely on his uncle for everything; otherwise, no matter how the outside court viewed it, he himself wouldn't be able to stand up for himself.

Gu Qingping suddenly grabbed the hem of his robe and whispered, "Go find him. Don't be the crown prince, be his nephew."

Zhu Biao was taken aback, then replied softly, "Okay."

As night deepened, Zhu Biao, cloak in full regalia, entered Zhu Han's residence, where all was quiet.

Without announcing his arrival, he walked straight through the courtyard to the back hall, where he saw Zhu Han standing in front of the incense table, burning incense and sitting quietly. On the table beside him were three newly sealed secret letters.

"Royal Uncle," Zhu Biao called softly.

Zhu Han opened his eyes, as if he already knew he was coming, and smiled faintly: "You've come."

"I wanted to come see you." Zhu Biao took a step closer, looked at the envelope on the table, and asked, "This is...?"

Zhu Han stood up and said without hesitation, "The letters I wrote to the three of them were all from my old subordinates. Now most of them are living in seclusion in the countryside. Some have changed their names, and some are pretending to be crazy."

Zhu Biao's expression was complicated: "You want them to return to the capital?"

Zhu Han shook his head: "No. I want them to be sent to Jiangnan, Shanxi, and Shandong to keep an eye on the low-ranking officials in charge of grain, household registration, and grain transport."

"This is the third game."

Zhu Biao was stunned: "The third game again?"

Zhu Han pulled him to the window, pointed to the palace lights in the distance, and said, word by word:

"The first task is to eliminate the threat from the heart and mind. Zhang An and the Eastern Depot are both targets of our sharp blades."

"The second task is to establish military prestige. You will personally lead the campaign to subdue the old generals and establish the Crown Prince's authority."

"The third step is to cut off the roots and the lifeblood, to prune those corrupt branches that cling to old merits and bribe officials—this is the foundation for solidifying your position."

Zhu Biao's eyes gleamed, and his voice was deep: "You've been doing all this, but you won't let me get involved. Are you afraid I'll cause trouble?"

Zhu Han shook his head: "I'm afraid you'll get your hands dirty."

“In the midst of political struggles, the most corrupt thing is the fight for lineage. You are the crown prince, the heir apparent, and you cannot get too involved, otherwise, you will become the subject of gossip. What you need is prestige, a posture, and ‘power’; and these underhanded clean-up tactics are what I should do.”

"All you need to do is walk in the light."

Zhu Biao could no longer contain himself and knelt down heavily: "Royal Uncle..."

Zhu Han sighed and reached out to help him up: "Don't call me Imperial Uncle, just call me 'Zhu Han'."

"From this day forward, you are the master. I will clear the snow and thorns for you, but one day you will have to don your armor and brave the wind alone."

Zhu Biao stood under the lamp, his hands clasped tightly, speechless for a long time.

Winter has arrived in the capital. The morning mist swirls around the city, and the gray-white sky resembles an ink wash painting, lending a somber air to this ancient capital where power and influence intertwine.

Zhu Han slowly closed the booklet, raised his eyes and said, "From Shandong into the canal, to Yangzhou to distribute the grain, there are leaks in several canals in three provinces and five prefectures along the way. Officials at all levels colluded to embezzle hundreds of thousands of taels of silver. Going further back, most of the local officials who were replaced within three years were 'laterally transferred' by the Ministry of Personnel. Behind them... it was all the work of one person."

Shen Yan, a trusted confidant, asked in a solemn voice, "Is it that Zhu, the official in charge of personnel?"

Zhu Han nodded: "Zhu Maoyang is good at showing loyalty and doesn't flaunt his abilities, yet he has promoted seven officials to the capital within five years, all of whom have been appointed to important positions. Now, this line of work has become an undercurrent."

Shen Yan's expression turned cold: "Your Highness, should we hand him over to the Crown Prince's residence for disposal?"

"No rush." ​​Zhu Han smiled, but with a chill in his eyes. "Zhu Biao's Guard Commandery has just been established, and it is not advisable to touch the root of the Ministry of Personnel too early. Besides, although Zhu Maoyang is cunning, he is not an ambitious man. His elaborate schemes are only for his own future position as Vice Minister, and he is not worth threatening the Crown Prince."

He paused, then suddenly said, "But the person behind him... is worth it."

Shen Yan's eyes suddenly turned cold: "You mean—the Minister of War, Luo Wenjin?"

Zhu Han nodded.

"Zhu Maoyang is cautious and dares not act rashly because he knows he is just a 'tailfin'. But Luo Wenjin is different. He can get Zhu Maoyang to transfer officials, manage grain transport, and deliver grain, without leaving a trace. This kind of person is the real 'old fox' in the court."

"More importantly, he has not expressed his opinion."

Shen Yan nodded: "After the Crown Prince was established, most of the court officials secretly tried to curry favor, but Minister Luo alone remained inactive, neither congratulating, offending, nor advising, which was extremely strange."

“The strangeness is what shows he’s waiting,” Zhu Han said slowly. “He’s waiting to see if the situation in the Eastern Palace can remain stable, whether the Emperor will change his mind, and whether Zhu Biao can truly govern. He’s not gambling; he wants to ‘reap the rewards’.”

A hint of sarcasm flashed in his eyes: "Unfortunately, he forgot that the Ming Dynasty is not his Luo family's fishpond."

A few days later, a storm was brewing.

Shen Yizhi, the Minister of Revenue, suddenly fell ill and died in his official residence while inspecting the grain warehouses in Shandong.

On the same night, Wu Qian, the Vice Minister of Works, rode out of his residence on horseback and fell to his death en route.

The sudden deaths of two important officials in the court caused quite a stir in the court.

When the news reached the Eastern Palace, Zhu Biao was discussing the New Year's grain relief with Vice Minister Wang. He paused, his pen still in his hand, his expression grave.

"Both were of the same lineage, and both died overnight... Was it a coincidence? Or was someone uprooting them?"

Vice Minister Wang's expression was also extremely serious: "Your Highness, I have reviewed the memorials submitted the other day. Although the two men hold different positions, they are both involved in the recent losses of the Lunan Canal Transportation Bureau, and... they are both students of Luo Wenjin."

Zhu Biao's eyes turned cold. He put down his pen and said in a deep voice, "The Imperial Uncle has made his move."

Why didn't he sue me?

Wang Shilang said in a low voice, "His nature is such that he always decides things before reporting them. If he wants to move someone, he must have already secured the evidence and then have someone else do it, leaving no trace. He does this because he is afraid that the Crown Prince will be involved and get caught up in the criticism of factional strife."

Zhu Biao remained silent for a long time before finally saying slowly, "But this time, I can no longer avoid the issue."

He stood up and looked out the window at the vast expanse of fog:
“If I really want to climb that high platform, I can’t always rely on him to stir up the wind.”

"It's my turn to take the next thunderbolt."

Three days later, after the midday court session, Crown Prince Zhu Biao suddenly reported:

"I recently read the memorials on grain transport and felt that many granary offices are suffering from unclear losses. If these losses are not investigated, it will inevitably lead to the collapse of military funds. I request Your Majesty to allow the Crown Prince to establish a special office called the 'Grain Transport Inspection Office' and temporarily borrow ten officials of the fifth rank or below from the Ministry of Revenue to be stationed in southern Shandong to inspect the granaries. The aim is to punish corruption, make up for the deficits, and clarify the grain transport policy."

These words caused an uproar among the court officials. (End of Chapter)