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

Fu Youwen hurriedly wrote it down, but he still didn't know why the old man had set his sights on Fangtian.

There's absolutely nothing wrong with these ledgers. If there were any problems, the clerks in charge of statistics at the Ministry of Revenue would have pointed it out long ago.

This shows that once the ledgers were collected and the statistics were completed at the Ministry of Personnel, there were no flaws to be found.

But why did the old man only glance at it before ordering the Censorate to investigate? Was it a random selection?

The old man wasn't like this before.

Could it be that there's a master guiding him from behind?

Fu Youwen thought about it more and more and felt that it was highly likely. Only with the guidance of an expert could the old man suddenly change his personality.

Can….

Who is this person?

Who else could have such power to change the mind of such a stubborn old man?

Just as Fu Youwen was deep in thought, Zhu Yuanzhang spoke again.

"Is Ningbo Wei building a water fortress?"

Fu Youwen was taken aback: "Your Majesty, that is indeed the case."

During the Hongwu era, there were three types of naval troops along the southeastern coast: garrisons under the navy, local river fortresses, and local militia.

A water fortress is a defensive structure built on an inland river near the coast. It typically consists of a defensive castle constructed along the riverbank or coastline, specifically designed to repel enemy landings from the near sea.

Zhu Yuanzhang coldly said, "Have the Censorate send someone to Ningbo Garrison to investigate thoroughly!"

Fu Youwen bowed respectfully and said, "Your humble servant understands!"

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded: "Alright, take the account books back, we won't look at them."

The problems that appeared in the account books of these two places were somewhat consistent with the solutions my father had suggested.

According to what the old man told Xiong Ying, the larger the first digit, the lower the probability of it appearing. The other ledgers seemed to follow this rule, except for the ledgers in these two places.

As for the other account books, Zhu Yuanzhang did not intend to look at them any further.

He wanted to test the waters first to see if there would be any problems in these two places.

.

….….….…….….

The next day.

Good news reached the palace: the method previously used by Zhu Xiong Ying to relieve the siege of Rongcheng had succeeded.

Early in the morning, Zhu Xiong Ying brought this good news to Zhu Yuan Zhang.

"Hahaha, good! Excellent, U.A., as expected of your master, this method really works!"

Zhu Yuanzhang was overjoyed after hearing this.

After saying this, Zhu Yuanzhang said with a serious expression, "The food crisis in Chengdu has been resolved. Xiong Ying, what do you think I should do with these merchants who are trying to profit from the national crisis?"

Zhu Xiong Ying also had some thoughts in mind at this moment.

Whether they are merchants or the poor, people must be categorized, but human nature cannot be generalized.

Merchants can be good, and the poor can be evil!

The major grain merchants and gentry of Shouzhou Prefecture not only failed to offer any assistance when the country was in trouble, but also made a fortune off the national crisis.

They are using the principle that "the law does not punish the masses" to oppose the imperial court.

This is understandable.

But in their eyes, are all the people of Chengdu really so worthless?

These unscrupulous businessmen will do anything for money!

"kill!"

Zhu Xiong Ying spat out a single word through gritted teeth: "Someone must have started this. We must find the merchant who started it, expose his crimes to the world, and make him a model for others!"

"Although the law does not punish the masses, if this trend continues, who knows how many people will follow suit in the future. Killing them is not enough to set a good example!"

Zhu Yuanzhang smiled and asked, "That's all?"

Zhu Xiong Ying asked, puzzled, "Oh, Grandpa, isn't this inappropriate?"

In Zhu Xiong Ying's view, this would serve as a deterrent and uphold the law.

Zhu Yuanzhang looked at Zhu Huai and said with some affection, "Silly child."

He squinted: "Killing is a must, but there is an art to killing!"

His expression then changed abruptly, and he sneered, "Killing only a few of the ringleaders of these lowly merchants is too lenient on them."

"Killing one is the same as killing a group! These merchants in Rongcheng are just trying to take advantage of the mentality that 'the law doesn't punish everyone' to defy the imperial court, aren't they? But they've clearly miscalculated!"

"This is a national crisis! It is the duty and responsibility of every citizen of the Ming Dynasty! In times of peace, they make money off the people of the Ming Dynasty, and now that the people of the Ming Dynasty are suffering, they still want to make money off the people of the Ming Dynasty. They are so greedy. If the court gives in, how can it govern the country!"

"Now that the crisis in Chengdu has been resolved, it's time to settle accounts. We must expose their crimes to the world, confiscate their property, and send their wives and daughters to the brothels as slaves!"

"Local officials recorded that their descendants were forbidden from participating in the imperial examinations, farming, or working for generations."

Zhu Yuanzhang's expression turned slightly ferocious: "Heh heh, aren't these people insatiable? Don't they think the court will back down? Let's show them with our actions that our Great Ming will not yield to foreign powers, and it will be just as tough on its own!"

"We must cast their descendants into the eighteenth level of hell, so they can never be reborn and will be forced to engage in lowly occupations for generations to come, not even worthy of being called human beings!"

Zhu Yuanzhang's attitude was very firm.

This applies not only internally, but also externally.

Their tough stance towards foreign powers was later described with the domineering statement: "No marriage alliances, no ceding of territory, no submission, no reparations; the emperor guards the nation's gates, and the monarch dies for the state!"

now.

Zhu Xiong Ying's face twitched.

In his mind, as long as the ringleader is identified and made a clear example, the matter is considered closed.

But to my surprise, in my grandfather's eyes, I had actually been too lenient.

"Do you think we were too harsh?" Zhu Yuanzhang asked with a smile when he saw Zhu Xiong Ying looking a little dazed.

Zhu Xiong Ying nodded: "Won't this give rise to gossip? Will the civil officials of the Ming Dynasty agree to this? Won't it stir up a wave of public opinion among the people?"

Zhu Yuanzhang laughed heartily: "Xiong Ying, you still don't understand the people of the Ming Dynasty!"

"If you had seen people starving to death with nowhere to turn for help, you would understand that what we have done is still too lenient."

"To win people's hearts, we need to go out and see more, go out and listen more. No one will sympathize with these rich but heartless merchants!"

"This is the current state of the Ming Dynasty, and it will certainly remain so in the future!"

As Zhu Yuanzhang spoke, he tapped his fingers on the table and said sternly, "Xiong Ying, you brat, remember this principle: our Ming Dynasty and the Ming Emperor are here to uphold justice for the people. To be an emperor, one must be ruthless!"

As the old man finished speaking, his almost tangible murderous intent became completely undisguised.

soon.

A member of the Imperial Guard was dispatched with his orders to Chengdu to deal with the merchants who were profiting from the national crisis.

Another quarter of an hour later.

Zhu Xiong Ying left, while Zhu Yuanzhang was still dealing with government affairs when he heard Mao Xiang come to report that the Prince of Chu was waiting outside the door.

"Is the King of Chu outside the gate?"

Zhu Yuanzhang frowned slightly: "Wasn't he imprisoned by Li Jinglong? How did he escape?"

"Besides, that prison is quite a distance from here. How did he get here? Didn't anyone stop him?"

The words fell.

Mao Xiang lowered his head.

As the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, he naturally knew what was going on, but... he was a little afraid to say it.

It's very simple.

The King of Chu and his family were imprisoned, but the old man's deep affection for his family was known far and wide.

The King of Chu used his persuasive skills, saying things like, "If the old man doesn't dare to kill, I'll make you pay when I get back," and with a barrage of threats, he persuaded many jailers to release him and lead him all the way to the front of the Fengtian Hall.

If this were to be revealed, many innocent people would likely die.

Mao Xiang hesitated.

He didn't hesitate for long, after all, the person in front of him was an old man.

He sighed and decided to tell the truth.

My voice carries little weight; I cannot protect the prison guards.

Just as Mao Xiang was about to speak, Zhu Yuanzhang looked at him thoughtfully, and then said first, "Bring this rebellious son, the Prince of Chu, in first."

Upon hearing this, Mao Xiang immediately accepted the order and left.

soon.

Prince Zhu Zhen of Chu was brought before Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhu Xiong Ying.

He was dressed in prison clothes, but he was not tortured, and no one dared to punish the old man's descendants.

"Father, Father!!!"

Upon seeing Zhu Yuanzhang, Zhu Zhen's eyes welled up with tears, and his lips trembled: "Father, I was wrong. I shouldn't have done whatever I wanted in Yingtian Prefecture. I was wrong, I was really wrong."

"Please, sir, don't exile me to Lingnan. You know, my health is poor, and I'm afraid I won't survive if I go to Lingnan."

"I estimate they'll all die there within three months. I beg you, Father, to rescind your order!"

Zhu Zhen spoke as if weeping and lamenting.

Is he in poor health? How could he not be in good health when he can fight so brilliantly!

Moreover, he didn't see the Emperor; he addressed the common people as "Dad" or "Old Man"!

This was merely to stir up the old man's feelings of kinship.

He knew; he had always known that the old man was very good to his family.

Especially for their own son, even if he commits a serious crime, they can be treated leniently.

Zhu Zhen grasped this point, so after arriving in Yingtian Prefecture from Wuchang, despite his subordinates' advice to restrain himself, Zhu Zhen remained unconcerned.

He was certain that the old man wouldn't do anything to him!

At most, I'll call him over and say a few words.

The old man I remember had the same personality.

Can….

But why?!

Why has the old man changed this time?

The Eighth Brother, who committed a crime before, didn't get into much trouble. Why is it that when it's my turn, I'm being punished so horribly?

Sending him to Lingnan is tantamount to a death sentence.

Old man, when did you become so cruel to your family?

Zhu Zhen kept shedding tears, looking extremely pitiful.

Zhu Yuanzhang knew how many foolish things this boy had done, but seeing these tears still softened his heart.

but….

Despite my soft heart, this execution cannot be reversed.

After all, this was our father's idea!

It was the decision of our ancestors!

"clatter…."

Zhu Yuanzhang stood up from his seat and slowly walked to Zhu Zhen.

"father…."

Zhu Zhen cried and hugged Zhu Yuanzhang's leg.

Zhu Yuanzhang, seeing this, angrily said, "You still know we're your father? Where the hell were you before?"

"boom!"

As they were talking, Zhu Yuanzhang kicked Zhu Zhen out.

Zhu Zhen was kicked and hit a pillar. He looked incredulous. How dare the old man hit his son?

He had never seen the old man before. How could the old man have become like this?

yes~

How could he know that this wasn't the old man's punishment for him, but rather his grandfather, Zhu Changye's?

Even a generational gap in blood relations can be overwhelming, let alone for someone like Zhu Yuanzhang who placed great importance on filial piety.

Zhu Yuanzhang walked up to him, kicked him again, and continued angrily: "Every year during the festival, we invite you all to have a reunion dinner together, but we always make you recite and abide by the family rules. Where have you been a disobedient son?"

"Does the family law allow you to forcibly take a woman? To forcibly seize land? Or to allow your son to kill someone and flee the scene?"

"Bang bang bang!"

He was talking while kicking one after another.