Ming Dynasty: Ask Zhu Yuanzhang to abdicate at the beginning

Chapter 10: Errand
The wind blew gently.

Old Zhu's face was full of smiles.

I’m too old, and I get more wrinkles when I smile.

He seemed to be becoming more amiable.

At this moment, he no longer looked like an emperor who was decisive in killing and looked down on the world.

He looks more like an ordinary grandfather.

But for some reason, facing this more amiable grandfather, Zhu Yunhuan felt even more uneasy.

It is said that some people are so smart that every word they say contains deep meaning.

Every ordinary action is actually extraordinary.

What is the meaning of Lao Zhu's move?

Zhu Yunhuan’s mind was racing.

While searching for the couplets stored in his mind, he smiled and said, "Poetry and songs are ultimately minor arts, and cannot be accepted by the upper class."

"I usually use it to cultivate my temperament and play games."

"Although Hu'er is young, he knows that he should read more books of sages and do more work, so he doesn't dare to waste too much time on poetry and songs."

"So, when it comes to poetry, I don't have a very high level of attainment. I'm sorry to make you laugh, Grandpa."

Upon hearing this, Old Zhu looked at him deeply again.

"It's okay, just treat it as a way to amuse Grandpa Huang."

"Of course we should read the works of sages, but we should also have some leisure and entertainment."

"Come on, Huer, write the couplets. Grandpa Huang will write for you personally."

As they were talking, a young eunuch had already brought the four treasures of the study.

Zhu Yuanzhang walked to the table in the pavilion, picked up the pen, dipped it in ink, and looked at Zhu Yunhuan with a smile on his face.

"In that case, Grandpa Emperor, I will show you my ugliness!"

There seemed to be a hint of guilt and timidity in Zhu Yunhuan's tone.

It seems that he is really worried that he can't write it.

Old Zhu nodded slightly.

Zhu Yunhuan recited slowly: "Every meal should be appreciated as it is not easy to come by; every piece of silk should be appreciated as it is not easy to produce."

Old Zhu wrote it down with one stroke of his pen.

The original smile disappeared.

He stared at the written couplet with a somewhat dull expression.

"Well written!"

After a long time, Lao Zhu finally praised loudly.

“This couplet is well written!”

"It matches our yard perfectly, it's a perfect match!"

He turned to look at Zhu Yunxun and said with a smile: "You really didn't read the sages' books in vain. You really learned something."

"Even if those well-read scholars were asked to write this couplet, they might not be able to write it as well as this!"

"Talented and knowledgeable! Hahahaha!"

Zhu Yunxun laughed and said:
"Articles are made by nature, but come by chance."

"I have never been fond of poetry or songs, nor am I good at them."

"Today I wrote a poem in the court, but I was forced to do so. I wrote it randomly out of inspiration."

"Just now, I saw the emperor working hard to dig the ground, and I felt the hardship of the people's lives, so I thought of this couplet."

"If the time and place were different, I would not be able to write as well as this, or even not be able to write at all."

"Grandpa Emperor, please don't exaggerate too much!"

He really felt insecure.

After all, I relied on memorizing poems to pass the test, and I was afraid that I wouldn’t be able to write one next time, so I took precautions early.

If you really want to brag about yourself as the "Poet Immortal", you may fall from grace at any time.

Old Zhu praised again: "He is neither arrogant nor impatient, and has a good temper."

"Having a child like you is enough for Biao'er to be happy in his grave!"

Zhu Yunxun lowered his head and said nothing, tears welling up in his eyes. He murmured, "Father..."

"Alas!" Old Zhu sighed heavily, then smiled and said, "You're fine, why are you crying?"

"It's all my fault. Why did you mention your father for no reason?"

Zhu Yunhuan still kept his head down, wiped the corners of his eyes with his hands, looked sad, and said nothing.

Zhu Yuanzhang called out, "Come here, copy three thousand copies of this couplet and send one copy to each of the royal family members and officials of high rank in the capital."

"We want them to keep these two sentences in mind forever."

After a pause, he laughed again and said, "We should also let those scholars who look down on our Zhu family and think that our Zhu family are all peasants take a good look at the fact that our Zhu family also has scholars. Our Zhu's grandson can write such poems and couplets, which is better than those scholars who are always philanthropic."

Before Zhu Yuanzhang conquered the world, he was often mocked by some hostile scholars, who mocked him for being uneducated, illiterate, and a peasant. But Zhu was very concerned about this, so he couldn't help feeling proud.

The eunuchs hurried over, took the couplet and started copying it.

Old Zhu smiled and asked, "Huer, you wrote such a good couplet, we want to reward you. Tell me, what do you want?"

Zhu Yunhuan hurriedly said: "Then please make me the crown prince and pass the throne to me!"

"You..." Zhu Yuanzhang raised his finger at him and said angrily, "How dare you!"

"The Ming Dynasty's kingdom and people, can't it be given to you just because you ask for it?"

"Do you know how much disturbance your words in the court today will cause?"

"You don't have any shame, but I still have it, Grandpa Emperor!"

"Since this is your first offense, I'll let it go."

"If you dare to talk nonsense again in the future, I will not let you off easily."

Zhu Yunhuan curled his lips in disapproval.

You were the one who asked, but I told you not to give it to me and you even scolded me...

"Then Grandfather Emperor cannot make my second brother the crown prince no matter what. He really can't do it."

Zhu Yunhuan said: "Grandpa Emperor can appoint anyone, but not him."

Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes widened, and his anger seemed to burst out again.

But before he could get angry, he suppressed it by himself and said, "Wen'er is your second brother. You two grew up together and your ages are not much different."

"I've heard from people in the past that you two brothers have a very good relationship."

"Why do you want to stop him from becoming the crown prince?"

Zhu Yuanxun said: "Grandpa Emperor, public is public, private is private."

"My second brother and I have a good relationship. This is a private affair."

"Second brother is not fit to be the emperor. This is a public matter that concerns the people of the world and the country."

"How can I sacrifice public interests for personal gain and disregard the country and its people?"

Old Zhu sneered, "What a clear distinction between public and private, you have a very convincing argument!"

"Forget it, forget it, I don't want to talk to you about this anymore."

"You are not young anymore. You should do something and gain some experience."

Zhu Yunxun rolled his eyes and asked hurriedly, "Is Grandfather Emperor going to assign me any tasks?"

"Since the end of the Yuan Dynasty, the world has been in turmoil and thieves have been everywhere."

"Along the coast, Japanese pirates harassed the people, killed, burned, looted, and committed all kinds of evil."

"Some illegal salt merchants, thieves and the remnants of Zhang Shicheng also mixed in with the Japanese pirates. They were bandits when they went out and civilians when they came in, so they could not be wiped out."

"In order to completely eliminate the Japanese threat, we have already issued an order to implement a maritime ban. No ship is allowed to go to sea."

"But this policy has not been fully implemented so far."

"There are always people in the government who are bold and reckless, colluding with profit-seeking merchants and even Japanese pirates."

"They sneak out to sea and do illegal things."

As he spoke, Lao Zhu took out a case file from his sleeve.

"This is the information found below."

"In Jinling City, there are wealthy businessmen colluding with the Japanese pirates to do some shady business."

"Tonight, you take the Royal Guards and raid the Park family."

Zhu Yunhuan was stunned for a moment.

Search your home?

Wouldn't it be enough to just let the Jinyiwei do this kind of thing?

Why must he, the emperor's grandson, lead the team?

Besides, what experience can you gain from confiscating someone’s property?

While thinking about it, I heard Lao Zhu say:

"Remember, if anyone from the Park family dares to resist, kill them without mercy!"

"If you complete this mission, I will make you a prince."

Zhu Yunhuan was startled again and stared at Old Zhu.

The emperor's son would be granted the title of prince at the age of ten, but he was originally the son of the crown prince, so he was only granted the title of county prince.

"What? The title of prince is too low for you?" Old Zhu snorted coldly.

Zhu Yunhuan lowered his eyes and said nothing.

"It's not like I didn't listen to your opinion. Let's put the issue of appointing a crown prince on hold for now."

"Just do your job well. We are watching you. If you are really capable and talented, we can make you the crown prince."

Lao Zhu waved his hand: "Go ahead and do your job well!"

(End of this chapter)