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

Inside the pavilion, Zhu Biao and Gu Qingping sat side by side, with three volumes of secret strategies spread out on the table.

The candlelight illuminated their faces, creating a warm atmosphere in the room.

Gu Qingping flipped through the parchment scroll in her hand, looked up and said softly, "Your Highness, it's late at night again. Are you still rehearsing strategies for winter?"

Zhu Biao raised his eyes, his brows and eyes as cold as stars, yet with a stubborn glint in them: "Although the court is now stable, there are still undercurrents in the outer courts. Yesterday, I received a report from Minister of War Zhang Jun that if there is a 'night battle military exercise' in Beiyuan, it will not be recorded in the Eastern Palace's military order. This exercise has a profound meaning, and it may be a show of force by others."

Gu Qingping frowned: "Beiyuan has always been the training ground for the Imperial Guards. If there is a night battle, and the Crown Prince is not informed, it will inevitably affect the morale of the troops."

Zhu Biao slowly closed his eyes, then opened them a moment later: "I must personally go to Beiyuan to inspect this performance and find out who is behind it all."

Gu Qingping said softly, "Your Highness, this journey is fraught with danger. If we encounter an ambush, may the Imperial Guards of the Eastern Palace stop us?"

Zhu Biao chuckled: "Although the Imperial Guards have left their camps, the authority to order the palace gates rests with the Regent Prince. From today onward, I must let the world know that the power of my Eastern Palace is greater than that of the Ministry of War."

The North Garden was like a labyrinth of passageways. In the darkness of night, only a few torches remained in the many tents, and a few imperial guards could be seen patrolling in the distance.

Zhu Biao arrived on horseback, accompanied by thirty imperial guards, each wearing a token from the Eastern Palace at their waist.

Gu Qingping rode closely beside him, her long sword reflecting the snow, her expression solemn.

A troop of imperial guards saw the Crown Prince's banner enter the camp and hurriedly stepped forward to stop him, asking, "Who dares to trespass into the Northern Garden at night?"

Zhu Biao presented the order, speaking solemnly: "Crown Prince Zhu Biao has come to inspect the night battle military exercise on the orders of Regent Prince Zhu Han. If there are any objections, the Ministry of War official may handle them."

The Imperial Guard general was taken aback and walked quietly to the front of the tent to report.

Before long, a travel-worn official arrived with several riders. It was Zhang Jun, the Vice Minister of War who had discussed matters with the Crown Prince the day before. When he saw the Crown Prince, he was taken aback at first, then bowed and said, "Your Highness, I am sorry for not welcoming you properly."

Zhu Biao stared intently at the line of soldiers ahead and asked, "Lord Zhang, why is this supposed night battle military exercise conducted without prior authorization from the Crown Prince?"

Zhang Jun said in a deep voice, "This is a test by the Ministry of War to assess our army's ability to fight in the cold night. We dare not disturb the Crown Prince. The deployment of 4,000 troops last night was solely for self-defense and not for any other purpose."

Zhu Biao's gaze was like a cold blade: "Self-defense is also a form of warfare. The Imperial Guards are mainly responsible for guarding the inner palace. The Ministry of War has the authority to order their mobilization. If this is not recorded in the Crown Prince's register, how would we know?"

Zhang Jun pondered, "Your Highness is right. I failed in my duty during the night. If Your Highness is not indignant, why not issue an order tonight for the various camps of the Eastern Palace and the Imperial Guard to conduct a joint drill to make up for tonight's shortcomings?"

Zhu Biao turned to look at Gu Qingping, and seeing her nod slightly, he said, "In that case, tonight the Imperial Guards of the Eastern Palace will jointly perform the 'Frost Battle' formation. Three quarters of an hour later, we will line up under the moon and witness the might of the Eastern Palace."

Zhang Jun respectfully replied, "Your Highness's decree is my command."

Zhu Biao surveyed the array and said slowly, "This formation is called 'Frosty Moon Shines Together.' The three battalions will train together with the Imperial Guard. First, the Imperial Guard will lead the vanguard to scout ahead, and then the three battalions will take over to cover the rear and provide support. After displaying their power, they will then encircle and capture the enemy within the formation. This will be done three times to be considered qualified."

The generals responded and formed ranks. The Imperial Guards, swords drawn, strode through the snow, breaking through the ranks to probe the enemy's path. Soldiers swiftly swung their swords, cutting through pine branches to clear a path across the snow.

The Eastern Camp followed closely behind to provide cover, while An Ce fired long-range crossbows from the side, the flames reflecting off the snow, flashing like silver light amidst the whistling sound.

After Zhu Hanmo set up the tent, he put on his robe, took a feather fan, and stared intently at its exquisite details.

Huang Qi, standing to the side, whispered, "Your Highness's formation is exquisite, drawing the Imperial Guards into the Eastern Palace's formation. It is awe-inspiring."

Zhu Han nodded slowly: "His actions were not to show off his power, but to let everyone know that the Crown Prince and the Imperial Guard can cooperate and control people's hearts."

On the third rehearsal, Zhu Biao spurred his horse into battle, heading straight for the center of the Imperial Guard formation. His voice boomed like thunder: "The Crown Prince is the mainstay, and the Imperial Guard is the Vajra protector. Only by joining forces to break through the formation can we demonstrate the unity of the Ming army!"

Upon hearing the commotion, the Imperial Guard Vanguard general drew his sword and charged into battle, standing shoulder to shoulder with Zhu Biao, their blades clashing.

The two combined their strength and instantly stunned the entire audience.

As the sword danced and fell in the snow, the white snow was stained red, and the soldiers exclaimed in surprise, followed by cheers.

Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhang Jun were both present in front of the emperor to watch the scene. Upon seeing this, Zhu Yuanzhang stroked his beard and laughed, "He has truly become the master of the Eastern Palace."

Zhang Jun sighed, "This formation is better than anything on paper. If it weren't for the Crown Prince's order and the cooperation of the Imperial Treasury, the Imperial Guards wouldn't be able to stand shoulder to shoulder with the Three Battalions."

As the drill concluded, a thousand soldiers stood in formation reflected in the water. Zhu Biao, standing at the head of the formation, called to a halt to the troops and said slowly, "Though the ice and frost are cold, the hearts of men are even stronger; though forming ranks is difficult, it is easy when hearts are united. I hope that my three battalions of the Eastern Palace will stand shoulder to shoulder with the Imperial Guard, and that all armies in the world will follow suit."

The Imperial Guards and the Three Battalions responded in unison, "We swear to serve the Crown Prince!"

Zhu Biao turned around, cupped his hands to the Imperial Guard general, and said, "Tonight's test was fortunate to have your assistance, General. From now on, we should also shoulder the heavy responsibility of the country together."

The Imperial Guard general clasped his hands in greeting: "Your Highness has the world in your heart, and we Imperial Guards are honored to serve you."

The following morning, the cabinet submitted a memorial detailing the military exercises at Beiyuan, praising the Crown Prince's iron will and the Eastern Palace's ability to unite the army.

The Imperial Guards, standing shoulder to shoulder with the three battalions of the Eastern Palace, are directly challenging the court and the public, and have become a new generation of military and political benchmarks.

Inside the East Palace Study, Zhu Han entered the room with a flick of his sleeve and saw Zhu Biao smiling as he discussed strategies with Gu Qingping.

Zhu Han's gaze was deep as he slowly walked to the two men's side and said in a low voice, "Your Highness, tonight the frost and moon shine brightly, the morale of the army can be stabilized; the court's evaluation is also positive."

Zhu Biao turned around with a smile: "Your Highness, do you know my heart, Imperial Uncle, who is observing the battle from not far away?"

Zhu Han smiled calmly: "I know that what you want is not only military might, but also the hearts of the people. The people and the soldiers all need trust, and trust comes from the Cloud-Piercing and Rock-Splitting Formation, as well as from the warmth of everyday life. You have not only broken the formation, but also comforted the people, which shows your true heart as a ruler."

Gu Qingping nodded gently: "Although Your Highness is the Crown Prince, you are already more like a monarch. Today, you not only defeated the testers, but also accumulated valuable momentum for the Eastern Palace."

Zhu Biao turned his gaze to the snow-covered ground outside the window: "The winter cold will soon be over, and the spring will be warm next year. The situation of the Crown Prince should be as clear and flawless as the snow after it has cleared."

Zhu Han gazed intently at him, then slowly reached out and patted his shoulder: "Okay, let's keep going."

Heavy snow had sealed off the palace for several days, and a thick layer of frost had accumulated on the glazed tiles of the Forbidden City.

On the ninth day of the twelfth lunar month, the sun began to rise, the snow gradually melted, and the long-awaited sunshine finally returned to the imperial city.

Zhu Han, wearing a fox fur coat, stood under the hanging flower gate in the backyard of the Prince's Mansion, gazing in the direction of the Eastern Palace.

Huang Qi arrived with a book and reported softly, "Your Highness, the decree for the preparation of the Spring Festival has been issued. The Crown Prince will preside over the ceremony, offering sacrifices to Heaven, Earth, the State, the Four Sacred Mountains, and the Five Sacred Towns. For the first time, he will be the sole signatory of the list of officials in charge of the ceremony."

He paused, his eyes revealing undisguised surprise. "This time, His Majesty will no longer have the Ministry of Rites in charge, but will instead have the Eastern Palace directly establish the Bureau of Rites."

Zhu Han took the memorial, turned a page, and a slight smile appeared on his lips.

"Finally we've reached this point."

He smiled faintly, his gaze piercing through the magnificent palaces. "The Spring Sacrifice is a symbol of the emperor's supreme authority. Zhu Biao's ability to personally preside over the Heavenly Sacrifice means he rightfully stands atop the highest heavens."

Huang Qi hesitated and said, "Your Highness, does His Majesty's move completely hand over power to the Crown Prince?"

Zhu Han's eyes narrowed: "No, it's a test, and also a push. My brother has been cautious all his life, and apart from the battlefield, every step he takes is full of foreshadowing. His decision to have Zhu Biao personally officiate the sacrificial ceremony to Heaven is not only a symbol of investiture, but also the last large-scale inspection by the Emperor."

"If Zhu Biao can stabilize the officials, maintain order in the Three Rites, and unite the Five Ministries, it will be a sign of his ascension to the throne; if there is even the slightest mistake, it will lead to a complete purge."

Zhu Han slowly raised his head, his eyes sharp. "Therefore, this spring festival must not be allowed to fail."

Huang Qi asked in a low voice, "I will immediately order people to set up surveillance. Is the Prince's Mansion secretly assisting the Crown Prince in preparing the gifts?" Zhu Han waved his hand, his tone resolute: "No."

"He was in control of the entire situation from beginning to end."

"If he can't even handle a single sacrificial ceremony, then the road ahead isn't worth continuing."

Huang Qi was taken aback, but then he saw Zhu Han turn around and enter the pavilion, his steps firm as a mountain.

Inside the East Palace lecture hall, Zhu Biao sat upright in the main seat, with more than ten memorials from the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Rites in front of him.

Du Shiqing, Wu Qiong, and Gu Qingping stood on the left and right, respectively, all with furrowed brows.

The Ministry of Rites refused to hand over the ritual register, citing the reason that "sacrificial ceremonies must not exceed the prescribed limits."

Du Shiqing said in a low voice, "This is paying lip service while secretly obstructing the Eastern Palace ceremony."

Zhu Biao was not annoyed, and said softly, "This move by the Ministry of Rites was within my expectations."

He raised his hand and waved it gently: "Consort Gu, convey my oral decree, ordering the six departments of the Eastern Palace to draft the 'New Spring Ceremony,' taking the 'Collected Statutes of the Great Ming' as the framework and supplementing it with the new laws of the Eastern Palace, and complete the grand chapter on the Crown Prince's sacrificial rites within three days."

Gu Qingping's eyes flickered: "Setting up your own sacrificial rites? Your Highness, are you trying to establish laws before rituals?"

Zhu Biao nodded slowly: "If I continue to act according to the old rules today, the world will only think that I am just an 'envoy' under the emperor; only by establishing my own rules can the officials understand that I, Zhu Biao, can set a precedent."

Wu Qiong gritted her teeth and said in a low voice, "In that case, the Ministry of Rites will definitely retaliate."

“Let them retaliate.” Zhu Biao’s eyes were sharp. “The more they retaliate, the more it shows that the Crown Prince is no longer under their control.”

He slowly rose, walked to the desk, and looked at the list that had been compiled: "This time, I want the entire court to know—the Crown Prince of the Ming Dynasty can be more than just the heir apparent; he can be the supreme ruler."

Two days later, the "Regulations for the Spring Festival Ceremony" of the Eastern Palace were released, in triplicate, and presented to the Emperor, the Cabinet, and the Ministry of Rites.

Its content was revolutionary, abolishing the original elaborate ritual of three kneelings and nine kowtows and replacing it with "five bows and three blessings". It also introduced the "proclaiming of sacrificial texts" system, which was written by the crown prince and proclaimed to heaven and earth.

Zhu Yuanzhang sat in his study, flipping through a thick volume of sacrificial texts, his expression complex.

Li Shanwen stood to the side and asked in a low voice, "Your Majesty, do you have any objections?"

Zhu Yuanzhang was silent for a moment, then suddenly burst into laughter: "Well done, Zhu Biao, he actually dares to mess with the Ministry of Rites."

He tossed the book aside, his laughter ceasing, and said in a deep voice, "Issue the decree: the Crown Prince's proposed Spring Festival rites do not violate ancestral rules and may be implemented."

Li Shanwen cupped his hands and said, "Your subject obeys the decree."

Zhu Yuanzhang stood up, put his hands behind his back, and walked to the window: "He has finally learned not just to be a crown prince, but to be an emperor."

The Ministry of Rites was shaken, and the old faction of the sacrificial rites was furious, but there was nothing they could do.

With the imperial edict before him, who would dare to disobey? More importantly, when the Crown Prince began to personally oversee the ceremonies, it meant that even if the Emperor did not explicitly state it, he was already "actually regent."

However, Zhu Biao showed no joy whatsoever in the Eastern Palace.

He mobilized troops day and night, sent people to inspect the streets and markets of the capital, and summoned the five battalions and three departments in succession to ensure that there would be no mistakes or omissions on the day of the spring sacrifice.

Seeing him hunched over his desk every night, Gu Qingping's eyes were full of worry: "Your Highness, although the situation is stable now, if Your Highness falls, who will be able to maintain this situation?"

Zhu Biao smiled faintly and said in a low voice, "If I fall, this game will no longer matter. The real game is the people's world. If I can't even withstand a single spring sacrifice, how can I talk about protecting the world?"

Gu Qingping remained silent, only quietly adding tea for him.

The two looked at each other, their understanding unspoken.

On the day of the Spring Festival, officials inside and outside the imperial city were dressed in their finest attire, and the Imperial Guards lined up on both sides of the south gate of the Temple of Heaven for ten miles.

The drums thundered, and the bells and chimes rang out in unison.

Zhu Biao, dressed in a crimson-gold ceremonial robe, personally led civil and military officials, departing from the Eastern Palace and slowly entering the Temple of Heaven.

When the imperial edict is issued, if the emperor does not attend, the crown prince will act on his behalf.

At that moment, all the officials in the court bowed to the ground and shouted in unison: "May the Crown Prince of the Great Ming Dynasty rule the country, bring peace to the four seas, and pray for a peaceful world!"

Zhu Biao stepped onto the altar, unfolded his personally written eulogy, and read aloud:
"Heaven is high and earth is far, the nation is blessed with good fortune, and Crown Prince Zhu Biao, with sincere heart, hereby proclaims this to Heaven and Earth."

His voice was clear as a bell under frost, each word resounding.

After reciting the sacrificial text, he slowly raised the wine cup to offer sacrifices to the heavens, his gaze resolute, without a trace of fear on his forehead.

Below the high platform, Zhu Han stood amidst the military formation, gazing at Zhu Biao standing upright on the altar, his robes billowing in the wind, like a true dragon descending to earth.

He thought to himself, "He finally doesn't need me anymore."

Behind him, Huang Qi asked in a low voice, "Your Highness, now that the Crown Prince is like the Emperor, does Your Highness have any worries?"

Zhu Han slowly shook his head and smiled, "I'm never worried about his strength, I'm only afraid of his weakness."

Zhu Han sat in the warm pavilion of the Prince's mansion, with charcoal fire glowing red in front of him and incense smoke curling from the burner.

Huang Qi entered, wearing a fur coat, and said in a low voice, "Your Highness, the Crown Prince's Palace has sent a New Year's greeting invitation, inviting Your Highness to a banquet on the first day of the new year."

Zhu Han looked through the invitation, which had been inscribed by Zhu Biao himself: "Celebrating the New Year together, uncle and nephew gathered together, not discussing politics, but only talking about family affection."

He chuckled softly, closed the letter, placed it in front of the stove, and said calmly, "He has finally learned 'property'."

Huang Qi asked, puzzled, "What does Your Highness mean?"

Zhu Han rose, donned his fox fur coat, and walked to the window. Outside, jade-like branches and trees stretched as far as the eye could see, and the laughter of children echoed from beyond the palace walls. The red plum blossoms throughout the city seemed ablaze with color.

"Politics is like ice, a knife, and a sharp edge that is fully exposed."

Zhu Han gazed at the pale clouds in the sky, "And family affection is like jade, like water, like the gentle light that can extinguish the fire of iron. If the Crown Prince only knows how to govern the country but does not understand family affection, he will only gain the world when he sits on the dragon throne, but he will lose the hearts of the people."

Huang Qi said in a low voice, "Your Highness has great foresight."

Zhu Han stood with his hands behind his back and suddenly asked, "What are the Crown Prince's plans for New Year's Eve?"

"According to the intelligence reports, the Crown Prince's palace will host a 'Three-Hall Banquet': one is the 'Imperial Clan Banquet,' which will invite members of the royal family and relatives of the outer vassal states; another is the 'Three Ministries Banquet,' which will invite the Secretariat, the Ministry of War, and the Ministry of Revenue to a New Year's banquet; and the third is the 'Quiet Night Banquet,' which will only allow the Crown Prince and Consort Gu to sit facing each other in the Jingfu Pavilion."

Zhu Han nodded slightly after hearing this, a faint look of satisfaction in his eyes: "The three halls are set up separately, with some being close and some distant, some for political purposes and some for personal ones. It seems that he is not only good at governing the court, but also knows how to manage people."

"Does Your Highness wish to attend the banquet?" Huang Qi asked cautiously.

Zhu Han turned to look at him and said calmly, "I will personally visit the Eastern Palace on New Year's Day. As for New Year's Eve, I will not disturb his 'quiet night feast'." (End of Chapter)