Zhu Di: My fourth son is a great emperor of all time?

Chapter 66 Zhu Gaoshuo: You granted me the title of Regent, I grant you the title of Emperor Emeritus
"any solution?"

Zhu Di asked anxiously.

He was just asking casually, but he didn't expect that the fourth brother would actually have a solution.

He knew that the fourth brother was a magical person who could solve anything.

But Zhu Gaoshuo's next words did not make him happy.

"The gap between the rich and the poor and the solidification of social classes are age-old problems that have no solution. The only solution I can think of is to temporarily delay the collapse of the dynasty."

“If the Ming Dynasty is already in its final days, then Your Majesty should immediately relinquish imperial power.”

"After the An Lushan Rebellion, why was the Tang Dynasty able to survive for another hundred years? It was because it distributed imperial power to local military governors."

"Getting local powers to acknowledge the existence of the imperial court for the sake of imperial power could at least extend the Ming Dynasty for another hundred years, but in the end it would be of no use."

What Zhu Gaoshuo said were actually last resorts.

After all, once imperial power is divided, it's impossible to take it back.

These words drew praise from all the ministers present.

No wonder Prince Qi became one of the greatest emperors in history. To have such insights at such a young age is not just beyond his age, but beyond his era.

They discovered that Zhu Gaoshuo's ideas were completely the same as those of the people in the future in the Heavenly Curtain, and the two even seemed to be having a pleasant conversation, which was terrifying.

The appearance of Prince Qi is truly a blessing for the Ming Dynasty!

This was also a difficult situation for these officials. They knew very well that it wouldn't be long before Zhu Gaoshuo would launch a reform to eliminate all these entrenched officials and gentry.

But they didn't expect that Zhu Gaoshuo had no such thoughts at all.

Reforms should be based on the actual situation. The Ming Dynasty is clearly still in a period of good governance and is developing steadily, so there is no need for reform.

The sky has changed; something must have happened.

At this moment, no one was happier than Zhu Di.

Zhu Gaoshuo's reforms have already succeeded in the future. Before long, the Ming Dynasty will move towards a golden age, and may even become a dynasty that lasts for a thousand years.

The Ming Dynasty will one day perish, but certainly not now.

Of course, the Ming Dynasty was too vast, and even a figure like Zhu Gaoshuo couldn't simply replace all the officials in the entire Ming Dynasty. Therefore, he had to find a place to test the waters first, and Zhu Gaoshuo ultimately chose Shuntian Prefecture.

The choice of Shuntian Prefecture was actually a well-considered one, as the capital was about to be moved and the new capital city was completed. The fact that the reforms were being carried out in the capital also signified the success of Zhu Gaoshuo's reforms.

The most unhappy people upon moving to the new capital were the Crown Prince's family, especially Zhu Gaochi. Although this was where he grew up, now that he had returned, the entire court and the capital belonged to Zhu Gaoshuo, and his position as Crown Prince was merely nominal.

Zhu Gaoshuo was even more concerned about the relocation of the capital than Zhu Di was.

"The eldest brother is probably out of options. The fourth brother can even accomplish that kind of reform, so what else can't he do?"

Zhu Di smiled. He hoped that Zhu Gaochi would have the self-awareness to refrain from causing trouble and allow the Ming Dynasty to improve under the rule of the fourth prince.

What made him happiest was the relocation of the capital.

Why did he move the capital?

It was the psychological pressure of not being in power properly. Nanjing was Jianwen's territory, and staying with the old forces always made him uneasy.

Another reason was to fight against the northern desert.

But now the northern desert is no longer a threat.

Logically speaking, the capital should not have been moved.

However, the fourth prince seemed to strongly agree with moving the capital, a point he had discussed with Zhu Gaoshuo. Zhu Di hadn't understood this before, but now he did.

Zhu Gaoshuo did this to weaken the old officials in Nanjing.

Upon hearing that the relocation of the capital had finally been successful, Zhu Di was very satisfied. Previously, so many people had opposed it, and he had to carry it out in secret. Now, his fourth son had silenced them so quickly.

The capital has finally been moved.

Looking at the throne behind him, Zhu Di shouted in his heart, "Jianwen, you little bastard, I'm not afraid of you anymore!"

After the reforms were completed, Zhu Gaoshuo did not rest. Now that the Ming Dynasty had recovered, he began to prepare for an attack on the Japanese islands.

[Zhu Gaochi strongly opposed this, trying to persuade Zhu Gaoshuo to give up based on the ancestral precepts left by the Ming Taizu (Emperor Hongwu). However, it was actually Zhu Di who wanted to fight at the time, so his opposition was useless.]

Zhu Di was overjoyed; finally, they were going to attack the Japanese islands.

He had long coveted the gold mines on the Japanese islands after hearing about them.

If we could conquer the Japanese islands and reclaim all their resources, the Ming Dynasty could extend its life by at least another hundred years.

Moreover, conquering the Japanese islands could usher in the Age of Exploration for the Ming Dynasty.

He originally thought that the fourth prince wouldn't be in such a hurry to attack the Japanese islands.

It seems like the fourth brother is even more impatient than him.

Of course, war is no joke, and thorough preparations are essential. Therefore, immediately after the decision to attack the Japanese islands was made, Zhu Gaoshuo went to the Ministry of Works and stayed there for three whole months, forcing Zhu Di to personally take charge of the government.

Many netizens jokingly say that Zhu Di was the regent, while Zhu Gaoshuo was the emperor.

[No problem. If I were the ancestor, I would definitely say to Zhu Di, "Father, grant me the position of regent, and I will grant you the title of Emperor Emeritus!"]
Ministry of Industry?

What was the fourth brother doing at the Ministry of Works?
Zhu Di was somewhat puzzled, but a smile quickly appeared on his face.

What else could one do at the Ministry of Works?
They're definitely going to help the Divine Machine Battalion manufacture new gunpowder weapons.

"Fourth Brother should get the new musket that was mentioned in the sky before ready!"

Zhu Di knew very well that his fourth son never fought a battle unprepared.

The Japanese islands were, after all, naval battles, and the Ming soldiers lacked experience in naval warfare.

Therefore, they used a new type of firearm with extremely powerful firepower to attack the Japanese islands, aiming to ensure that the attack would be foolproof.

With the new muskets brought out by the fourth prince, the Ming Dynasty could fire even further.

Zhu Di was tempted, for he was now the emperor of the Ming Dynasty.

No matter what great things the fourth brother accomplishes now, the credit will still be attributed to him.

Zhu Di believed that the fourth prince must have gone to manufacture new firearms, otherwise there would be no reason for him not to oversee the country, but instead to devote himself to the Ministry of Works for three months.

It must be something big.

Three months later, Zhu Gaoshuo left the Ministry of Works and manufactured a batch of new firearms, which were not only easy to carry but also extremely powerful.

Furthermore, the artillery of the Shenji Battalion was improved, increasing its range, making it perfect for attacking islands.

The emergence of new weapons greatly boosted the morale of the Ming soldiers, and Zhu Gaoshuo's prestige within the army reached its peak. The soldiers eagerly awaited Prince Qi, Zhu Gaoshuo, to lead them to conquer vast territories!

[Prince Qi, Zhu Gaoshuo, declared in a grand manner that he would one day rule the world with his word, and this word refers to the word of language!]

At this point, Crown Prince Zhu Gaochi understood that the tide had turned and it was impossible to reverse the situation. Officials in various regions had long been beneficiaries of Zhu Gaoshuo's reforms, and they were all supporters of Prince Qi. Now, even the army was chanting praises of Prince Qi's heroism. More importantly, even Emperor Zhu Di was now the largest member of Prince Qi's faction.

(End of this chapter)