Zhu Yuanzhang, who commanded the wind and rain, lived a long and arduous life.

People who fear death cannot fight so fiercely.

Zhu Xiong Ying's nose tingled: "Nonsense!"

Zhu Yuanzhang patted Zhu Xiong Ying on the shoulder: "We know you are filial. We really enjoy being with you and watching you grow up day by day. We have lost you for too long..."

As he spoke, Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes became a little moist.

Zhu Xiong Ying comforted him, saying, "Grandpa, why are you suddenly feeling sentimental? Um, when did you lose me for too long? I've always been by your side!"

Zhu Yuanzhang was taken aback for a moment, then forced a smile and said, "Yes, yes! You've always been by our side!"

The old man composed himself, looked at the rice paddies in front of him, and sighed, "In just over twenty years, this place has transformed from a wasteland into vast tracts of fertile land."

"A prosperous era is hard-won and needs to be protected by generations. The ruler's virtue must not be corrupt, and the ruler's ability must not be weak."

He glanced at Zhu Xiong Ying indifferently: "When ordinary people see this land, they see grain; when merchants see this land, they see money; when we see this land, we see..."

"The land!" "The land!"

The grandfather and grandson said in unison.

Zhu Yuanzhang was stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter.

Zhu Xiong Ying also burst into laughter!

It's unclear when exactly, but Zhu Xiong Ying's vision had begun to align with that of Zhu Yuan Zhang.

Under the golden sunset, the grandfather and grandson sat on the edge of the field, gazing at the boundless landscape before them, both lost in endless longing.

"Grandson, what do you think the future will be like?"

"It will surely be a time of abundant granaries, a strong nation and prosperous people, and an even greater golden age than the present!"

"Ah."

The old man's eyes showed longing, then he suddenly said, "Zheng Yong's entire family was wiped out."

"Haha, that's great... um!"

Zhu Xiong Ying stared wide-eyed: "Zheng... Zheng Yong's entire family was wiped out?"

This rapid-fire conversation left Zhu Xiong Ying somewhat bewildered.

"Why? Grandpa, you..."

Zhu Yuanzhang shook his head: "An ordinary excuse won't work to kill Zheng Yong, so when the Embroidered Uniform Guards were confiscating his property, they slipped them an imperial edict from the Yuan Dynasty."

"rebellion?!"

Zhu Xiong Ying exclaimed in shock, "You're going to kill Zheng Yong?"

The old man sighed and nodded, saying, "Yes, we must kill him."

Zhu Yuanzhang didn't say much, his eyes showing a hint of melancholy.

Even in his twilight years, he still has to resort to surgery, all to pave the way for you and your eldest brother, Zhu Biao.

We fear that the Prince of Zhongshan's mansion might one day seek refuge with the Prince of Yan.

Such a powerful force, if we don't wipe them out while they're still alive, it'll be difficult to deal with you and your sentimental father later.

You are my son, Zhu Yuanzhang's son!

For you and Zhu Biao, what fear is there of becoming a butcher?!

……

Under the afterglow of the setting sun.

A deathly silence fell over the Xu family's study.

Xu Huizu was shocked for a long time and couldn't react.

"Did you see it clearly?"

He looked at Xu Yingxu and Xu Zengshou, and asked uncertainly, "Young Master Zhu, are you really with the old man? In the countryside?"

Xu Yingxu nodded: "Not only that, it seems they've known each other for a long time, and their relationship is extremely close."

Xu Huizu fell into an endless silence.

His face still showed intense shock.

Even though he had considered this possibility beforehand, hearing it now still felt somewhat unreal.

He thought of that scene under the rain curtain over the palace.

It turns out that the figure I saw from behind was really the old man!

It turns out that back then, it really was Young Master Zhu who held the umbrella to escort the old man.

Terrifying, terrifying!!

Both of them were in a state of shock.

……

the other side.

As the sun set, Zhu Xiong Ying accompanied Zhu Yuan Zhang along the winding path.

In the afterglow of the setting sun, the shadows of the grandfather and grandson stretched out very long.

Behind me, an endless land!

After entering the city, Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhu Xiong Ying parted ways.

By the time Zhu Yuanzhang returned to the Jinshen Hall, it was already completely dark.

Zheng He had prepared tea for Zhu Yuanzhang well in advance; it was neither too hot nor too cold, just right.

Zhu Yuanzhang sat on the dragon throne, sipped his tea, and seemed to think of something. He said to Zheng He, "Go to the inner palace and summon Prince Ning."

"According to the order!"

Before long, Prince Ning came anxiously.

"My son, I will meet my father."

Zhu Yuanzhang waved his hand and said, "Don't be so formal."

"If I remember correctly, you're leaving the capital for the Daming Military Command the day after tomorrow, right?"

Prince Ning nodded: "I am grateful for your concern, Father. I will indeed be traveling to Da Ning the day after tomorrow. I wish you peace and safety in the future."

Zhu Yuanzhang hummed in agreement, looked at the Prince of Ning, and said meaningfully, "Da Ning's geography is somewhat special. I've already reminded you of everything that needed to be reminded."

Prince Ning hurriedly clasped his hands in a fist and said, “Father, rest assured, I will always remember your wise words. I also know what I should and should not do in Da Ning.”

Zhu Yuanzhang said, "Daning is a strategic pass. Don't embarrass us. You've grown up and learned a lot of skills. It's time for you to fight for the country and protect our Zhu family's empire."

“All the descendants of our Zhu family have always been outsiders.”

“We are now your father and son serving as ministers, but I am the emperor of the Ming Dynasty. In the future, there will be another emperor in the Ming Dynasty. You are a minister, and a minister should be dutiful and not get involved in any messy matters.”

"Trust us. Whether we live or die, as long as you guard the northern border peacefully, your lineage of Prince Ning will forever enjoy wealth and prosperity."

“Your mother was a concubine. If Biao’er hadn’t mentioned your mother to us back then, perhaps there wouldn’t be a lineage of Prince Ning. Cherish her, for your mother’s sake, for our eldest son’s sake, and for the future emperor.”

"Keep these words of ours etched in your mind."

Do you understand what I'm saying?

Prince Ning hurriedly replied, "Your subject understands! Your subject will always be grateful to your elder brother."

Zhu Yuanzhang grunted in agreement and waved his hand, saying, "Go down."

"Yes!"

After thinking for a moment, Zhu Yuanzhang called out to Prince Ning again: "You and our eldest grandson, go say goodbye tomorrow, and the day after tomorrow we will have the Ministry of Rites send you to your fiefdom."

Prince Ning hurriedly replied, "Your subject obeys the decree!"

After Prince Ning left, Zhu Yuanzhang sighed with worry: "I hope this kid doesn't have any ambitions."

"None of these sons are easy for me, their father."

Now that the Ming Dynasty is at peace, the greatest threat to imperial power comes not from the outside, but from within.

These powerful border kings who control large armies will all become a threat to our grandson in the future.

Who told him to be so young and inexperienced? On the other hand, all these regional kings were ruthless and decisive warlords who had conquered battlefields.

Sometimes, having a son who is too outstanding can also be a source of trouble.

When the princes were first enfeoffed, the Northern Yuan was still the Ming Dynasty's most powerful enemy. Now, however, the roles of offense and defense have reversed between the Yuan and the Ming. The old man naturally realized that these princes he had enfeoffed were, in fact, potential threats.

Over the years, Zhu Yuanzhang had been working on this, even issuing edicts every year, stipulating that both the border princes and the inner princes only had military power, not the power to govern the local areas. They only had armies, while wealth and population remained in the control of the imperial court.

But now, the old man suddenly realized that once the princes had taken control of the military, they seemed to pose an even greater threat to Zhu Xiong Ying and Zhu Biao!

However, Zhu Yuanzhang could not take back the military power, as this would be tantamount to suppressing his sons who had made meritorious contributions without cause, which was something Zhu Yuanzhang did not want to see.

There are contradictions no matter what. Even Zhu Yuanzhang, a great ruler, could not escape the constraints of history on this issue.

He flipped through the memorials absentmindedly.

The old man glanced casually at a memorial from the Ministry of Rites, and suddenly his face lit up with a smile, clearly in high spirits. It was a letter of state submitted by the Ministry of Rites:

"Your subject Timur is far away, but I have heard that Your Majesty's virtue is so great that it transcends time... I have no way to repay Your Majesty's kindness, so I can only pray to Heaven for Your Majesty's long life and blessings, as vast as Heaven and Earth, and for eternal joy without end."

"Your subject Timur, though living far away, has heard of Your Majesty's boundless virtue, surpassing all ages... I have no way to repay Your Majesty's kindness, but can only pray to Heaven for Your Majesty's longevity and blessings, as vast as Heaven and Earth, with eternal joy and boundless happiness. I now send this envoy, Dielim, to present three hundred horses to Your Majesty, the wise and enlightened ruler, to maintain friendly relations for eternity!"

This is a letter from the Timurid Khanate.

Timur's Khanate paid tribute to the Ming Dynasty and became its vassal, which undoubtedly added another achievement to the old man's record in history!

The Ming Dynasty's current military defense focus remains on the northern frontier. The Oirat and Tatar tribes are too close to the Ming court, forcing Zhu Yuanzhang to pay attention to these two powerful northern Yuan tribes.

As for the Timurid Khanate established by the Mongols who fled to the European continent, it was too far away from the Ming Dynasty, so the Ming court never paid much attention to it.

However, Zhu Yuanzhang was genuinely happy that they were willing to submit to the Ming Dynasty.

This is a huge achievement; I need to find some time to brag about it to my grandson!

The old man smiled, a little smugly.

Zhu Yuanzhang was unaware that this would be a meeting of the century, the first meeting of two of the four most powerful empires on the planet!

……

at the same time.

Zhu Xiong Ying also returned to his study in the mansion at this time.

The firelight flickered in the study.

Zhu Xiong Ying was looking at the documents that Tie Xuan handed over.

Every few days, Xie Jin would send over many documents, all of them, big and small, to Tie Xuan.

After Tie Xuan categorized the documents, he compiled them and handed them over to Zhu Huai.

Agricultural production has begun to resume in Jiaozhi, with sweet potato cultivation taking the lead. The provincial administration has also personally encouraged agriculture and sericulture, and everything is progressing in an orderly manner.

However, Xie Jin still subtly mentioned the current financial difficulties in Jiaozhi.

Production and construction require money, officials' salaries require money, and military spending and its establishment all require money.

Zhu Huai was well aware that Jiaozhi had a weak foundation.

By the time Zhu Xiong Ying had carefully read through the documents, it was already late at night.

Early the next morning.

Zhu Xiong Ying got up early. He first asked someone to find Tie Xuan, and then he ran around the Qinhuai River by himself.

Zhu Xiong Ying did not eat out today.

Back in the courtyard of the mansion, Tie Xuan was already waiting.

Zhu Xiong Ying had the servants serve breakfast.

Four tea eggs, two bowls of cooling porridge, and six vegetable buns.

Zhu Xiong Ying asked Tie Xuan to sit down and said with a smile, "Ding Shi, it's all simple breakfast. I won't treat you like an outsider. Let's eat and talk."

Tie Xuan was flattered.

Zhu Xiong Ying's easygoing personality deeply moved Tie Xuan.

"it is good!"

Tie Xuan didn't stand on ceremony. He gently blew on the steam from the congee, peeled open a tea egg, and began to eat it whole.

Zhu Xiong Ying, while eating a tea egg, said, "Jiaozhi is short of money, as you can see."

Tie Xuan nodded: "Yes, Xie Dashen must have really had no other choice, otherwise he wouldn't have asked for help."

Zhu Xiong Ying thought for a moment and asked, "What do you think we should do?"

The old man once taught Zhu Xiong Ying a saying that she found very true.

Don't rush to express your opinions. When you are a leader of a team, the first thing you should always do is listen.

Tie Xuan had already placed himself in the position of a subject, so he felt that it was only natural for Zhu Xiong Ying to ask such a question.

If it were any other official, being asked such a question would probably make them feel uncomfortable, but Tie Xuan did not.

He thought for a moment and said, "Or we can borrow from the imperial court. I'll step in and borrow a sum of money directly from the Ministry of Revenue."

Zhu Xiong Ying did not refute, but asked, "How much money do you think Xie Da Shen needs, at the very least?"

Tie Xuan calculated for a moment and said, "It should cost at least 200,000 taels of silver."

Zhu Xiong Ying nodded: "How does the imperial court borrow it?"

Tie Xuan said, "It's a normal national loan, with interest paid annually."

Zhu Xiong Ying took a sip of plain porridge, took a deep breath, and looked at Tie Xuan, saying, "The imperial court's finances are stretched thin."

"The officials of the Ministry of Revenue and the imperial court were basically in a state of abandoning Jiaozhi; no one was optimistic about Jiaozhi."

"Two hundred thousand taels of silver isn't a lot, but it's a considerable expense for the Ministry of Revenue. Do you think they'll provide the money?"

Tie Xuan said with a forced smile, "We have to try. If it really doesn't work, we can raise the interest rate above the market rate. Surely the Ministry of Revenue will lend it to us then. Besides, I can't just do nothing and leave Da Shen in a difficult situation in Jiaozhi alone."

Zhu Xiong Ying smiled and looked at Tie Xuan, saying, "You and Xie Jin used to bicker all the time, but now that he's gone, you've started calling him 'Great Gentleman,' haha."

Tie Xuan said shyly, "Although I always bicker with Da Shen, we are the same kind of people. We both want to contribute to the Ming Dynasty."

Zhu Xiong Ying nodded: "Alright, this matter should be done sooner rather than later. Go to the Ministry of Revenue after dinner."

Tie Xuan quickly finished the egg bun and porridge in two bites, then hurriedly stammered, "I'm going now."

Zhu Xiong Ying nodded and continued to eat her breakfast slowly.

He intended to lend his own treasury silver to Jiaozhi.

However, Tie Xuan is right. He can't do nothing. If he can borrow money from the court, the Ministry of Revenue will receive a considerable amount of interest income, and Jiaozhi will also stimulate the court's finances.

In short, Zhu Xiong Ying was also cultivating Tie Xuan's ability to handle affairs.

Just as Zhu Xiong Ying was thinking this, Prince Ning arrived.

"It's better to arrive at the right time than to arrive early!"

"Brother Zhu, is there any breakfast left? Get me some."

Zhu Xiong Ying was taken aback: "Why are you here?"

As he spoke, he instructed his servants to bring breakfast to Prince Ning.

"Tsk, you're so frugal! You eat such a simple breakfast? You're a tycoon who owns two huge sources of income: smokeless coal and salt!"

"I thought you started your breakfast with bird's nest and mouthwash! I didn't expect you to be so stingy!"

Zhu Xiong Ying smiled and said calmly, "The common people have it tough. They grow all the grain by bending over. Even though we're rich now, we still need to have reverence for food."

Prince Ning paused for a moment, then chuckled softly and said, "Why do you talk like my old man? No wonder..."

Zhu Xiong Ying stared at Prince Ning: "What did you just say?"