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

Zhu Han bowed and said, "Your Majesty, there are some conspiracies brewing lately. Someone close to the Crown Prince is spreading misleading rumors in an attempt to divide the court. Would you allow me to entrust this matter to a trusted confidant to investigate and get to the bottom of it?"

Zhu Yuanzhang pondered for a moment, his eyes blazing: "Good. I shall severely punish such petty men in the court. But I hope that loyal and virtuous officials will not be harmed. My brother, you may list the candidates for me, and I will appoint them in writing."

Zhu Han secretly noted that there were only a few suspicious people in the court, such as Zhao Guangyuan and Cao Xiangqing, plus Li Shanchang, who had been reported by the secret agents earlier.

He then stepped forward and said, “I propose that the Imperial Guard generals Wu An and Shi Ren each lead their troops to secretly travel along different routes to cooperate with the inside agents in gathering information. I also request that Your Majesty issue an edict to summon the descendants of prominent families and let them speak, thereby deterring the spies.”

Upon hearing this, Zhu Yuanzhang's expression immediately turned serious: "Good! This plan is decisive. Your Majesty may implement it immediately."

He suddenly turned to Zhu Gang and asked in a cold voice, "Would the Prince of Jin be willing to travel with these two generals to pave the way for the court?" Zhu Gang hesitated, but under the watchful eyes of everyone, he could only nod in agreement.

That evening, the palace was filled with people and brightly lit by candlelight.

Zhu Han, Zhu Biao, Wu An, Shi Ren, and others hid in the long corridor outside Zhu Gang's residence, listening to the wind and observing the movements.

Under the moonlight, a cloaked messenger approached quietly, exchanged a few words with Shi Ren in a low voice, and handed him a secret letter.

Shi Ren took the letter, but secretly tore it open, his eyes gleaming in the torchlight.

He carefully folded the envelope again and secretly handed it to Zhu Han.

Zhu Han took the letter and opened it slightly. The two characters "Zhu Gang" were clearly visible in the letter, which was secretly signed. The text inside contained details of Zhu Gang's collusion with powerful families.

Zhu Han remained calm and raised his voice to Shi Ren, saying, "Take this letter back to the Eastern Palace and make it public during the court audience tomorrow." Shi Ren bowed and accepted the order before leaving.

Only Zhu Han and Zhu Biao remained in the corridor. Zhu Biao lowered his voice and said, "Uncle, in this situation, shouldn't we expose them to your face?"

Zhu Han shook his head slightly: "The time is not ripe yet. If we criticize him in public, it may trigger deeper undercurrents. We must wait for Zhu Gang to appear before using this letter to deliver the final blow."

He turned around, his eyes blazing: "Tomorrow at noon, in the Zichen Palace, we, together with my elder brother, will expose this plot to the face of the emperor. At that time, Zhu Gang will have no way to deny it, and the loyal officials in the court will naturally support the crown prince."

Zhu Biao frowned and said, "Yes, Your Majesty." The two exchanged a glance, their hearts already in sync. As night deepened, the wind rustled through the bamboo shadows, carrying a faint whisper, as if foreshadowing the coming storm.

The following day at noon, the court officials stood solemnly in the Zichen Hall.

Zhu Yuanzhang appeared dignified. Zhu Han entered carrying a letter, and Zhu Biao knelt before the dragon throne.

Zhu Han said in a loud voice, “Your Majesty, I received this secret letter last night, which clearly states that Prince Jin, Zhu Gang, and powerful families are plotting against the Crown Prince, pushing him towards unjust policies, and intending to use the power of court officials to destroy the Crown Prince’s reputation. I humbly request Your Majesty to open this letter and show it to the world.” He unfolded the letter with one hand, his voice booming like a bell.

Upon seeing the secret letter on the list, Zhu Gang's expression changed drastically. He opened his mouth to argue, but Zhu Yuanzhang coldly stopped him: "Shut up!" He turned to look at the assembled officials: "I would like to ask you all, is this letter genuine or fake? If you have any objections, you may raise your hands to speak."

The hall was empty, and the ministers looked at each other in bewilderment. Finally, Li Shanchang, pale-faced, knelt down and could not rise.

Zhu Yuanzhang's gaze was sharp and his words were resolute: "Such crimes cannot be lightly pardoned!"

The following morning, Zhu Han personally embarked on his inspection tour.

He changed into civilian clothes, took a few trusted confidants, and quietly went out, avoiding the sight of the palace guards.

Upon arriving outside the capital, he summoned several low-profile officials to give a report.

The officials knelt respectfully: "Your Highness, are there any specific places you wish to inspect during today's inspection?"

Zhu Han's gaze was sharp as he slowly said, "This inspection mainly focuses on investigating the situation of various government offices, merchants, and even farmland in the capital, especially the behavior of some ministers in the court. What you know is only what happened within the last month." He glanced around, "Remember, remain calm and don't let anyone notice."

As the group approached the south gate of the capital, Zhu Han stopped and said, "Let's go to the Zhao family's government office first."

The Zhao family is one of the most prominent families in the capital. The Zhao family patriarch, Zhao Guangyuan, has influence throughout the court. In particular, the fact that he secretly colluded with Zhu Gang has long been known to Zhu Han's spies.

Upon arriving at the entrance of the Zhao family mansion, Zhu Han instructed his trusted men to disperse and take up positions in various locations, while he himself headed directly towards the main hall.

When the servants of the Zhao family saw the prince arrive, they hurriedly went to greet him, but Zhu Han ignored them and went straight into Zhao Guangyuan's study.

Zhao Guangyuan was sitting at his desk when he saw Zhu Han enter. He was slightly taken aback and said, "Your Highness, I am sorry for not greeting you properly. Please have a seat." His tone was somewhat unnatural, and he was obviously a little guilty.

Zhu Han smiled faintly: "Lord Zhao, I just happened to be passing by, so I thought I'd stop by and say hello. There have been many affairs at court lately, and I heard that Lord Zhao has not been feeling well recently, so I came to inquire after your health."

Zhao Guangyuan forced a smile and said, "Your Highness's concern is undeserved. I am in good health." He stood up and bowed to Zhu Han, a barely perceptible hint of wariness flashing in his eyes.

Zhu Han carefully observed Zhao Guangyuan's expression and knew that he had something to hide.

After Zhu Han sat down, he casually flipped through a few scrolls of documents on the table and suddenly asked, "Lord Zhao, the atmosphere in the court has been quite tense lately. It seems that the powerful families have some opinions about the Crown Prince's policies. What is your opinion?"

Zhao Guangyuan raised an eyebrow, his expression unchanged: "Your Highness is too kind. His Highness the Crown Prince is a prince, and he must have his own views. We ministers will naturally do our best to assist him. However... this policy on the poor is perhaps a bit too radical. If we are not careful, it may cause controversy."

Zhu Han chuckled: "Controversy? No, Lord Zhao, you know very well that such a policy, on the surface, benefits the common people, but in reality, it benefits the powerful families more. The common people are promoted, but if they want to truly secure the position of the crown prince, they still need to rely on those ministers who are deeply popular."

Zhao Guangyuan's expression changed slightly, but he quickly regained his composure: "What Your Highness says makes sense, but if one did not see it with one's own eyes, who would dare to speak lightly of the Crown Prince's decision? After all, the Crown Prince is still young and inevitably a bit impatient for quick success."

Zhu Han nodded slightly: "Indeed, the Crown Prince is young and eager for quick success, which is exactly when he needs the assistance of experienced ministers like us. Lord Zhao, what do you think of me nominating you as the Crown Prince's advisor?"

Zhao Guangyuan's eyes lit up instantly, but he quickly suppressed his excitement. He took a deep breath, his expression slightly hesitant: "Your Highness, this is the Crown Prince's business. I am merely someone who helped out. How dare I receive such a favor?"

A cold smile flashed in Zhu Han's eyes as he said in a low voice, "Lord Zhao, do you think you have a powerful force behind you that allows you to speak to me so easily?"

He paused, then smiled gently: "However, don't worry, I know about your relationship with Zhu Gang, and I also know about some of the things you've been planning in the capital recently. But there's one thing you need to understand: any act of betraying the Crown Prince will not be tolerated."

Zhao Guangyuan's expression changed slightly, and his eyes flickered uncertainly.

He gripped the document tightly in his hand and whispered, "Your Highness, this...you've wronged me. Prince Jin and I have done nothing wrong; we were merely offering advice to the court, with absolutely no ulterior motives." Zhu Han stood up, his gaze sharp: "Zhao Guangyuan, the court is currently in a period of great power, and His Highness the Crown Prince urgently needs to be appeased and stabilized. I hope you can help the Crown Prince, rather than continuing to support those forces detrimental to him."

He said softly, "I will give you time to think, but if you continue to be stubborn, the outcome will not be as simple as losing this job."

Zhao Guangyuan was clearly intimidated by Zhu Han's tone. He gripped the document tightly in his hand, a strong sense of fear rising in his heart.

Zhu Han slowly turned around, a cold smile flashing in his eyes: "I'll give you a month. If you're willing to stand on the Crown Prince's side, you can still have your position as a veteran minister. But if you insist on rebelling, then the only place you can stand will be the Dali Temple."

After he finished speaking, he turned and left with his confidants.

As soon as he left the Zhao family mansion, Zhu Han frowned: "Zhao Guangyuan is indeed no simple person. There are still many undercurrents in his heart. It seems that he is not only involved with Zhu Gang, but may also have a bigger plan behind him."

Seeing this, Zhu Biao said in a low voice, "Uncle, the Zhao family is a major power in the court. Now that they are wavering, the situation will probably become even more complicated."

Hurried footsteps came from outside the door, and a servant whispered, "Your Highness, the Crown Prince has arrived."

Zhu Han turned around and smiled slightly: "Please let him in."

Zhu Biao stepped inside, his brow furrowed, seemingly uneasy: "Uncle, what is Zhao Guangyuan's attitude? Will he change his stance?"

Zhu Han looked at Zhu Biao and said calmly, "His mind is in turmoil, but it's not time for him to surrender yet. He needs to see greater pressure. We're not in a hurry. Let him slowly understand how great the price is of choosing the wrong side."

Zhu Biao hesitated for a moment: "If the Zhao family continues to hesitate, those in the court who are watching will likely become even more swayed."

Zhu Han suddenly sat down and pointed to the seat opposite him: "Biao'er, sit down. I have a plan that will force them to make a statement."

Zhu Biao sat down, puzzled. "Please speak, Imperial Uncle."

Zhu Han's gaze was sharp as he slowly said, "We'll first select a few officials who appear loyal but are actually secretly colluding with the Zhao family, and then throw them into disarray in the court. The method is simple—set a test that will prevent them from pleasing both sides."

Zhu Biao's eyes lit up: "Exam questions? Uncle, are you planning to use a case from the imperial court as a starting point?"

Zhu Han nodded: "That's right. At tomorrow's court assembly, using my power of inspection, I will publicly expose the corruption of officials in the capital region and ask several ministers to indicate whether they support punishment or leniency. If Zhao Guangyuan and the others still harbor illusions, they will surely take the wrong side. Once they reveal their true colors, we will wipe them out in one fell swoop."

Zhu Biao pondered for a moment: "But if they realize it on the spot, they might pretend not to know and avoid answering."

Zhu Han's lips curled into a cold smile: "So we need to choose someone they think is safe to target, for example—at tomorrow's court assembly, you should nominate a county magistrate who is a confidant of Zhao Guangyuan, and have him confess in public whether he has embezzled taxes. At that time, even if Zhao Guangyuan wants to protect him, he can't do so in public. When he is in a dilemma, his true intentions will be revealed."

Zhu Biao's eyes flashed with admiration: "Uncle, you are brilliant! This is both a consultation on politics and a test of your mind."

The following day, all the officials gathered in the Zichen Palace.

Zhu Yuanzhang sat upright on the dragon throne, his expression majestic.

Zhu Han and Zhu Biao stood before the hall. Zhu Biao stepped forward and said loudly, "Your Majesty, yesterday my uncle and I inspected the capital region and discovered that the tax revenue of Jingnan County was severely embezzled, causing great suffering to the people. It has now been confirmed that County Magistrate Zhao Yi and several other officials embezzled tax revenue. The evidence is conclusive and we dare not conceal it. We beseech Your Majesty to make a wise judgment."

Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes shone brightly: "Where is Zhao Yi?"

The Imperial Guards escorted in a pale-faced middle-aged official.

Zhao Yi knelt in the hall, his voice trembling: "Your Majesty, please forgive me. I was confused for a moment. It was the government that forced me to do this..."

Zhu Biao turned to the assembled officials at the opportune moment, his tone firm and resolute: "Zhao Yi is but a minor official. Who exactly is this 'higher-ups' he speaks of? I will find out today. Lord Zhao Guangyuan, you hold the important position of Governor of the Capital Region. Are you aware of this scandal involving officials in your jurisdiction?"

Zhao Guangyuan's heart skipped a beat, and his expression changed slightly. He slowly rose and cupped his hands in greeting: "Your Highness, the officials in the capital region are numerous and complex. Although this old minister strives to be dutiful, manpower is limited, and oversights are inevitable..."

Zhu Han suddenly interrupted, his tone cold and stern: "Oversight? Lord Zhao, do you have a list of officials under your jurisdiction? Have you reported any suspicious points? Or... do you know perfectly well what's going on, but are turning a blind eye?"

These words were like a knife, drawing sidelong glances from the assembled officials.

Zhao Guangyuan broke out in a cold sweat and hesitated for a long time before saying, "Your Highness is too kind. This old minister had no intention of covering up for Zhao Yi. This old minister was indeed unaware of Zhao Yi's matter."

Zhu Han stopped looking at him and instead addressed Zhu Yuanzhang in a loud voice: “Your Majesty, Zhao Yi has repeatedly claimed that someone in the government office gave him instructions. I suggest that Zhao Yi’s confidants be summoned on the spot to verify their testimonies and follow the clues. If any high-ranking officials are found to be protecting corrupt officials, they will not be tolerated.”

Zhu Yuanzhang's face was ashen: "Granted! Summon Zhao Yi's trusted men!"

At the palace gate, two officials were brought in. One of them was extremely terrified and burst into tears as soon as he knelt down.
"Your Majesty, please understand! It was all Steward Zhao of the Zhao family who ordered us to do as they said! The county magistrate was just taking the blame for them. The real people who took the money were the people from the Zhao family!"

These words caused an uproar in the hall. All the ministers' eyes fell on Zhao Guangyuan.

Zhao Guangyuan's face turned deathly pale, and his knees buckled as he knelt down: "Your Majesty, this matter... Your Majesty is innocent! I had no such intention; it must be a servant's fabrication to frame me!"

Zhu Han sneered: "Lord Zhao, if it were truly the servants' lies, why are so many testimonies pointing to the Zhao residence? As the governor of the capital region, if you cannot even control your own household servants, how can you govern the people of this area?"

Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes narrowed, and he slammed his fist on the table, exclaiming, "Zhao Guangyuan, I have always treated you well, yet you dare to protect embezzlers right here in the capital?!"

Zhao Guangyuan hurriedly kowtowed repeatedly: "Your Majesty! I am innocent! I am absolutely not a member of Zhu Gang's faction! I am utterly loyal to the Crown Prince!"

Zhu Han stepped forward, his voice as cold as ice: "Loyal? If this matter hadn't been exposed, would you have confessed on your own? Zhao Guangyuan, I gave you a chance."

He slowly raised his head and turned to Zhu Yuanzhang: "Your Majesty, I suggest that Zhao Guangyuan be immediately imprisoned and his accounts with Zhao Yi thoroughly investigated."

Zhu Yuanzhang was furious and waved his hand, shouting, "Guards! Zhao Guangyuan has neglected his duties and protected his subordinates who embezzled. Take him to the imperial prison and confiscate his family's account books!"

Seeing this, the officials in the hall fell silent. (End of Chapter)