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

"You don't know?" Zhu Han said in a deep voice, "You report the warehouse situation twice a month, and you haven't even seen rice weevils grow to three inches long?"

"I...I was just following the rules, the warehouse door was locked..."

"Who gave you the key?"

Wang Degui stammered.

Zhu Han said coldly, "Take him back. If you don't talk, you'll suffer in jail."

Standing to the side, watching Uncle Wang handle the matter so neatly and efficiently, Zhu Biao couldn't help but ask, "Uncle Wang, does this matter involve the Ministry of War?"

Zhu Han shook his head: "It's not the Ministry of War, it's Shuntian Prefecture."

"Then what should we do?"

Zhu Han glanced at him and suddenly said, "You decide."

Zhu Biao paused slightly, then nodded: "Summon the registrar of Shuntian Prefecture for questioning and investigate the responsibility for sealing the granaries; order the Ministry of Revenue to re-inspect all granaries, and re-seal and test all grain that was not sold last year within three days. Those who fail to do so will be considered derelict in their duties."

"Moreover."

He turned to look at the hundreds of onlookers outside the warehouse and spoke in a deep voice:
"From today onwards, the Crown Prince's Palace will establish a granary inspection team, which will conduct inspections once a month and sell grain once every three weeks. All citizens are free to register and inspect the grain. If they find any discrepancies, they can report it to the inspection team."

There was a commotion in the crowd, but applause followed.

"The Crown Prince personally inspected the rice granaries!"

"His Highness has gone down to the fields to inquire about insects and grains!"

"This is the true support we ordinary people have!"

Zhu Biao appeared calm, but his heart was surging with emotion.

That night, Zhu Han returned to his residence and changed out of his mud-stained robes. Huang Qi came in with a lantern and whispered, "Your Highness, the registrar of Shuntian Prefecture has hanged himself at home."

Zhu Han's expression remained unchanged, and he simply replied, "He was too quick to become afraid; it's no wonder others are upset."

"Your Highness, the people all praise the Crown Prince's strategy today..."

“That’s a good thing.” Zhu Han looked at the moonlight outside the window. “He will eventually have to learn to do things alone and take responsibility on his own.”

Huang Qi said in a low voice, "Your Highness... have you ever considered that that day might come sooner than you expected?"

Zhu Han was silent for a moment, then suddenly smiled faintly: "As long as he does well, it doesn't matter if he thinks of things faster than I do."

Zhu Han was not listed in any official position, but he rode behind the Crown Prince on horseback, wearing a plain gray brocade robe and an unadorned blue hat.

On the ridges of the fields, farmers bent over to plant rice seedlings, the water gurgling and the mud churning, seemingly in harmony with the will of heaven.

The east wind blows, carrying the scent of mud and new buds, and hits you in the face.

Zhu Biao dismounted, slightly bent his knees, and looked down at the furrows turning in the muddy field.

"The official in charge of the fields said that there was a poor harvest here the year before last, but this year the land was irrigated thanks to water from the South Canal. Uncle, what do you think of the color of this soil?"

Zhu Han took the seedling tray, squatted down and weighed the mud in his hand: "The color is not dull, the water is not cold, the seedlings are tender and the roots are straight. If the weather is not bad, this field can yield 70% of the harvest."

Zhu Biao looked at the farmers planting rice seedlings nearby and suddenly asked, "Would you like to try it yourself?"

Zhu Han raised an eyebrow and smiled: "If you try, I will try."

Zhu Biao lifted his court robes and waded barefoot into the mud. The crowd was astonished but dared not stop him.

Gu Qingping frowned slightly from a distance, but ultimately said nothing, only instructing someone to prepare hot soup and clean towels.

Zhu Han also rolled up his sleeves and went into the fields, his movements even more skillful than Zhu Biao's.

"Hey, this gentleman's insertion is really quite professional."

"He's not an official, he's a prince!"

"A prince? The emperor's own brother? Unlike those from the capital..."

Hearing the whispers around him, Zhu Han looked up and smiled, "You're not bad either."

The old farmer was taken aback for a moment, then rubbed his hands together and laughed, "I'm just a farmer."

"What about farmers? Who does the Ming Dynasty rely on for food? Isn't it on every drop of sweat you get from the fields?" Zhu Han said seriously.

The old farmer was taken aback, then nodded emphatically, his eyes even slightly red.

Zhu Biao overheard this from a short distance away. When he looked back at Zhu Han, the fleeting respect in his eyes was genuine.

At noon, a thatched pavilion was set up next to the imperial field, where simple meals and hot tea were prepared.

Zhu Han and Zhu Biao sat side by side without any curtains or screens.

Mr. and Mrs. Tian came to deliver steamed cakes and chive pancakes, all made by the villagers themselves. The prince accepted them without hesitation.

"When my father was young, he also worked the land in the fields, so he often said that the world is not only conquered, but also cultivated," Zhu Biao said in a deep voice, gazing at the vast rice paddies in the distance.

"It's about both fighting and defending." Zhu Han took a sip of strong tea. "But defending the country requires more than just swords; it also requires supplies."

"Unfortunately, the spring rains have been continuous. Although the southern canal is open, the four rural areas in the southwest are still suffering from drought, and the granaries are not enough for next year's expenses."

Zhu Biao frowned slightly. "I plan to set up a 'Grain Procurement Office' for temporary allocation and turnover. I hope you will consider this, Imperial Uncle."

Zhu Han shook his head: "It cannot be set."

"Why?"

“Establishing the ‘Grain Procurement Office’ is a major undertaking.” Zhu Han paused, then said in a low voice, “Now that your prestige is just beginning to be established, if you add another powerful office, I’m afraid there will be more observers than supporters in the court.”

Zhu Biao pondered: "Then how do you suggest allocating grain?"

Zhu Han smiled: "You can move the hearts and minds of the people, but not the rule of law."

How to move?

"Tomorrow, you shall summon the heads of the three li and ten villages in the western countryside and set up the 'Spring Discussion Forum'."

Zhu Han said casually, "Just say that you are willing to use the Crown Prince's private treasury to exchange for surplus grain from the fields; that you are willing to raise funds for agricultural loans by personally tilling the land; that you will not involve officials or set up servants, and that the village head will allocate the funds himself. Is that feasible?"

Zhu Biao's eyes lit up: "The people's hearts will naturally rise, and the grain will naturally come."

“You understand.” Zhu Han smiled as he stood up, brushing the dust off his clothes. “You only need to remember one thing: the Crown Prince is a guardian of the granary, not a plunderer.”

Two days later, the Spring Discussion Forum was set up under a large willow tree. The people sat around it, and the prince personally wrote the eight characters "I wish to borrow surplus grain so that spring sowing will be worry-free." The village chiefs nodded on the spot, and Xixiang raised more than 100 shi of grain that very day.

Gu Qingping personally divided the accounts, while Zhu Han ordered a list to be posted in the public corridor of the Prince's Mansion, so that the villagers could check it themselves under the bright moon and gentle breeze to ensure there were no errors.

When this news reached the capital, Zhu Yuanzhang, though he did not speak, muttered to himself beside his desk: "Zhu Biao today is just like the way I used to deliver porridge to starving people all those years ago."

The eunuch bowed and agreed.

Mid-spring is halfway through, and the sunshine is getting warmer. Outside the western suburbs, smoke rises from village chimneys, and greenery gradually emerges between the fields.

Zhu Han did not return to the palace immediately, but instead stayed at the Xixiang post station with Huang Qi and several close attendants.

He was not dressed in court attire, nor did he carry any ceremonial regalia. He simply strolled through the village as a layman surnamed Zhu.

"Does Your Highness truly intend to travel alone?" Huang Qi asked in a low voice.

"If one arrives in royal robes, one will only see the people bowing and scraping; how can one know whether their lives are filled with hardship or happiness?"

Zhu Han walked with his hands behind his back, a smile in his eyes, "If you're afraid of losing your life, then wait for me at the post station."

Huang Qi grinned: "How could I let you travel alone? My life is important, but yours is even more important."

Zhu Han chuckled: "Let's go."

He walked along a field path paved with bluestone toward the village. Spring grass grew lushly by the roadside, and several lambs rolled and bleated on the slope. Not far away, an old woman was squatting at the edge of the field pulling weeds. She was stunned when she saw him.

"Grandma, may I ask for some water?" Zhu Han asked with a smile and bowed.

The old woman glanced at him, noticing his distinguished demeanor yet simple attire and gentle tone, which suggested he wasn't the type to swindle or cheat people. She stood up and said, "Sir, how did you come all this way? We have tea for you."

He then went to the back of the house, brought out a ladle of clear spring water, and handed it to him.

Zhu Han took the water ladle made of shrubs, tilted his head back and drank. The water was cool and sweet, refreshing to the taste. He put down the ladle and thanked him, saying, "Is this a spring?"

"Yes, this area is fed by the spring water from the east, unlike the dry land of the south. It's a pity that there are few wells, with the whole village sharing one well."

"When the sun is high, you have to take turns, right?" The old woman gave a wry smile: "It's a habit in the village. When there are many people, each family takes turns even earlier. I have to get up before the rooster crows for the first time."

Zhu Han nodded, noticing the cracks between her fingers on her sleeve, and couldn't help but ask, "Where's your son?"

“Sigh, there was a disaster a couple of years ago, and that child went to another town to work as a day laborer and hasn’t come back yet.”

Zhu Han paused for a moment: "Has anyone come to ask about your family affairs in the past few years?"

The old woman was taken aback: "Ask? Who would ask that..."

He pondered for a moment, then suddenly turned and whispered a few words to Huang Qi, who nodded and left.

“Auntie, my name is Zhu Han.” He said frankly, “Now that we’ve met today, I’m indebted to you for a cup of water. If anyone comes to ask about the well water in the future, just tell them the truth and don’t try to hide it.”

The old woman was even more surprised and was about to ask him more questions when the young man bowed and turned to leave.

Further ahead, there is a winding alley. At the entrance of the alley, there is a child, barefoot, carrying a tattered basket, chasing a few chickens and ducks on the ground.

Suddenly he heard the sound of chickens flapping their wings, but he fell headfirst into a mound of earth.

"Hey, young man!"

Zhu Han quickly stepped forward and pulled him out of the mud. The child's hair was messy and his nose was covered in mud, but his eyes were bright and clear.

"what's your name?"

"My name is Gouwa!"

"how old are you?"

"Six years old!" Gouwa wiped his nose. "Who are you? Are you a court musician?"

Zhu Han was taken aback, then burst into laughter: "No, I don't teach, but I love listening to people read aloud."

Gouwa scratched his head: "Mom said I don't have money to go to school, so I can only help raise chickens and grow beans at home. I want to study and write."

Zhu Han bent down and glanced at him, then said softly, "Then write the character 'dog' for me to see."

Gouwa frowned and drew a crooked pattern on the ground with his hand for a long time.

Zhu Han didn't smile, but simply nodded slightly: "Well written, it has a ruthless edge."

Gouwa's eyes lit up immediately: "Really?"

"You catch this chicken much better than I do," he laughed.

When Zhu Han stood up, his gaze was somewhat calm.

That evening, Zhu Han returned to the post station and instructed Huang Qi:

“Record the three villages in the western countryside that lack education, and instruct the Prince’s Office to allocate thirty sets of elementary school textbooks, to be taught three times a month by itinerant teachers.”

“Draw up blueprints for the reconstruction of Dongquan Well and inform the Crown Prince so that the funds for the well can be used in the name of the Crown Prince’s Palace.”

"Then—Gouwa, take another name, call him 'Wenliang,' and send him to the village school."

Huang Qi agreed to all of them.

Before the sun had risen, the drums in front of the camp were already beating, the banners were fluttering, and the iron cavalry was about to arrive.

"Order the three battalions to sound the drums three times, rotate the formation three times, fold the cavalry five times, and ambush in two sections!"

Zhu Biao stood on the main platform of the drill ground, wearing black armor embroidered with white and gold, his expression stern, his voice clear and resonant, almost like rolling thunder in spring.

Below the stage, three thousand elite soldiers moved swiftly, the infantry changing ranks, the cavalry advancing separately, and the archers following behind, their shadows like a tide, all orders were executed in an orderly manner.

Gu Qingping stood behind the inner steps, her gaze fixed on that resolute figure, and whispered, "He's changed."

Wu Qiong sighed softly, "It's the air of a general."

"This is more indicative of a ruler," Du Shiqing said in a deep voice. "The fact that the three battalions remained orderly after being ordered around is not something that can be achieved in just three months of training; it must have been planned in advance."

Standing in front of the steps, Zhu Han, not in his official robes but in a simple blue brocade robe, stood under the shade of a tree, quietly observing the scene.

“Your Highness,” Huang Qi said in a low voice, “Now that the orders have been transferred three times, the coordination between infantry, cavalry, and archers is smooth, and all the generals are fulfilling their duties. The Crown Prince’s strategy is far superior to the old method used by the Ministry of War.”

Zhu Han's gaze was sharp, but his tone was unhurried: "He's not just practicing military tactics today; he's putting on a show of 'being fit to be a ruler.'"

"The ruler...?"

"He wanted the court to see that these three battalions were not under my protection, but were his own troops."

The drill continued for three hours, and the battle formation shifted. Zhu Biao ordered the Third Cavalry Battalion to charge into the Second Infantry Battalion's main formation, demonstrating the method of "breaking through a trap".

Suddenly, the drums thundered like lightning, horses neighed and tumbled, and dust billowed as the two battalions clashed and regrouped. In a brief moment, Zhu Biao shouted, "Halt!"

The three battalions returned to their positions without disturbing an inch of ground.

Everyone was astonished. The method of "mixing troops and stopping" requires a high degree of coordination between soldiers and generals and the commander's control. In this test, Zhu Biao had managed to deploy the three armies as if they were his own limbs.

Envoys were already on the sidelines, recording the battle situation in detail and sending it to the palace by fast horse.

In the afternoon, Zhu Yuanzhang sat on the couch in his imperial study, flipping through the morning newspaper, his expression unchanged. He paused for a moment, then finished reading the last page.

"Has Your Highness said anything?"

Li Shanwen responded, "I didn't utter a single word, I just observed the whole process."

"Does the Crown Prince say so?"

"The Crown Prince made no excuses, but went to the camp to discuss the list of rewards and punishments."

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded slowly: "No thanks, no modesty, no need for others to help—he has indeed grown up."

The fire in the tent burned brightly. The generals had all dispersed, but Zhu Biao sat alone before the tent, his gaze calm as he reflected on the day's events. The tent flap stirred slightly, and a man entered—it was Zhu Han.

"Royal Uncle." Zhu Biao stood up and bowed.

"Today's performance was excellent." Zhu Han sat down, brushing off his clothes.

Zhu Biao chuckled softly: "It's not quite polished yet; there are two instances where the coordination is still lacking."

"If one can recognize one's own shortcomings, then one will not fail to live up to the name one has today."

Zhu Han picked up the teacup on the table and gently blew on it. "Do you know what you've done today?"

"Deploy troops?"

"No." Zhu Han smiled faintly, "Today you will truly bring the 'Three Battalions of Fenwu' under your command, and from now on there will be no more talk of 'a prince acting as a custodian' in the court."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Biao remained silent for a moment before saying, "I do not wish to compete with the Imperial Uncle for fame, but if I do not break free from your wing today, I will be forever controlled by others in the future."

“I understand.” Zhu Han’s tone suddenly softened. “From the moment you started ‘Qian Ce Tang,’ you have already embarked on your own path.”

Zhu Biao looked up at him, his eyes filled with gratitude and determination: "I won't let you protect me for nothing."

Zhu Han suddenly laughed: "But you have made a mistake in one of your plans today."

"What's the plan?"

"You should share the decision on rewards and punishments with the three generals, instead of making it all your own. You have established your authority, but you have not yet won their hearts."

Zhu Biao was taken aback, then smiled wryly: "I will remember your words, Imperial Uncle."

Zhu Han slowly stood up: "Let's go, come with me."

"Where?"

Zhu Han turned his head, a sly look on his face: "Let's go for a drink."

Behind the western camp, there is a small slope called "Star Gazing Ridge". On this night, the moon is as bright as water, and the grass rustles in the wind.

The two sat side by side on the ridge, with a jar of turbid wine and half a catty of roasted meat.

"Do you still remember when you were a child, the year you first learned to ride a horse, and you fell and got all bruised and battered?"

"I remember you taught me back then not to cry, and that if I fell, I had to ride again."

“You won’t fall again today,” Zhu Han said, taking a sip of his drink, his voice slightly tipsy, “but the road will be harder to ride.”

"I'm not afraid." Zhu Biao gripped his wine cup tightly, his eyes resolute. "As long as someone follows me on my journey, I won't go astray." (End of Chapter)