The First Gongsheng of Ming Dynasty

By May.

There was still no news of Zhang Zhou's return to the court. At this time, Zhang Zhou's troops had arrived in Liaodong, but he did not immediately join the battle with the Jurchens. Instead, he started recruiting soldiers in southern Liaoning and other places.

This was an extremely uncomfortable situation for the civil officials in the court.

Zhang Zhou wants to recruit soldiers. What is he going to do?
Want to rebel?
In the past, no matter what Zhang Zhou did, others would think that he was wreaking havoc on the Ming Dynasty, wasting the people's money, and making the Ming Dynasty's military and civilians uneasy.

But at this point, if Zhang Zhou made any move, they would think that it was a precursor to rebellion.

Once people start to doubt Zhang Zhou, no matter what he does, he will be criticized.

However, Zhu Youtang's plan to confer the title of King of Dingyang on Zhang Zhou was gradually progressing. This seemed to be the first time since the founding of the Ming Dynasty that a person could be conferred the title of king during his lifetime, and the title of King of Dingyang seemed to be something that could be passed down.

Zhu Youtang held two court meetings in early May, both of which mentioned this matter, but the people in the court reacted strongly to it, especially Liu Jian and Li Dongyang, who expressed strong opposition.

On the sixth day of May, after the court meeting ended, Zhu Youtang took Chen Kuan and others back to the Qianqing Palace.

After sitting down, Chen Kuan reported to him something that sounded very special.

"…Your Majesty, news has just been sent back from Binhai City that the ships that had set out to sea encountered pirates and a large storm while sailing in the eastern sea…More than a dozen ships capsized, and although some people were rescued, the admiral, the eunuch Liu Jin…fell into the water and died."

"what?"

When Zhu Youtang heard this, he couldn't help but frown.

The plan to go to sea was one of his and Zhang Zhou's revival plans. The first three voyages were very smooth, and even brought a large amount of silver to the Ming court, shifting the pricing power of silver from the people to the court.

Seeing that silver had become a widely circulated currency in the Ming Dynasty and could replace copper coins and treasure notes, Zhu Youtang felt that the problem was not simple when he encountered trouble at this time.

Chen Kuan said: "It is said that it was caused by Liu Jin's unauthorized change of the route. Duke Cai had already set the route for going out to sea, and the previous few times he followed the previously set route."

"That's his own fault!" Zhu Youtang was very angry. He stood up and paced back and forth, saying, "Once this happens, people in the court will definitely criticize it. They may even ask me to stop going to sea! I will be under unprecedented pressure."

Chen Kuan lowered his head and said, "Although this matter has not been reported through formal channels, it won't be long before the court will know about it. I didn't mention it in the court before."

Zhu Youtang nodded and said, "But no matter what, we can't stop going to the sea. I even plan to go to Binhai City again to give some confidence to the shipbuilding craftsmen in Binhai City and the soldiers going to sea."

Chen Kuan asked, "Then Your Majesty, should we recall the remaining fleet and personnel?"

"How?"

Zhu Youtang frowned and said, "People are drifting on the sea, and you want me to call them back? When you go out to sea, you can only move forward and not retreat. Do I need to remind you of this? I don't know what Bingkuan will think after knowing this. It's so difficult for me to make him a king."

Having said that, Zhu Youtang began to blame himself again.

……

……

Zhu Youtang temporarily made a plan to go on a tour to Binhai City.

The plan was progressing very smoothly this time. When the emperor raised the issue to the emperor, even though the incident involving the fleet was not mentioned, people in the court and the public seemed to understand the emperor very well.

As long as you, the emperor, do not disturb the foundation of the Ming Dynasty, you can go wherever you want.

Anyway, you are an adult, and as an emperor you are usually quite cautious. Can we still restrict your freedom?
When Zhu Houzhao learned that his old father was going on a tour, he was so angry that he didn't eat for two days.

"Prince..." Gao Feng and others tried to persuade him, but to no avail.

In the past two days, Zhu Houzhao used the excuse of being sick and not going anywhere, and started to argue with this group of people.

In the past, no matter what Zhu Houzhao did, as long as these eunuchs in charge coaxed him or took precautions, nothing would go wrong.

But now the prince is going on a hunger strike... they have no idea what to do, and they can't stuff food into the prince's mouth. They can only keep persuading him.

"I want to get out too. You must help me." Zhu Houzhao said, "Otherwise I will starve myself to death. From today on, I won't even drink water. I heard that people who don't drink water will die in three or four days. Let's see how you can explain to the Zhu guy."

At this time, Zhu Houzhao no longer considered himself the son of Zhu Youtang.

Whenever he mentioned Zhu Youtang, there was murderous intent in his eyes.

Gao Feng and others were at a loss as to what to do but could do nothing.

……

……

Zhu Youtang went on a tour to Binhai City, and the departure date was set on the tenth day of May.

Before he set off, he also issued an imperial decree to Zhang Zhou, asking him to go directly from Liaodong to Binhai City to join him...

It seemed that Zhu Youtang also fully considered the interests of his ministers. Knowing that Zhang Zhou did not want to return to the court for the time being and did not want to face those ministers, he arranged a meeting for Zhang Zhou outside the capital.

"By then, Bingkuan will take a ship from Liaodong to Binhai City, and I will go to the port to greet him. It will be considered as welcoming him back in triumph."

Zhu Youtang also brought Concubine Xian with him on this tour.

In front of Concubine Xian, he was as happy as a child, and he had no idea that his backyard was on fire. His eldest son, Zhu Houzhao, escaped from the palace with the help of Gao Feng and others, and the news was kept secret, so that when Zhu Houzhao left the capital, no one in the palace knew about it, and others just thought that Zhu Houzhao was sick recently.

After Zhu Youtang returned this time, he only met his son once, and he also lost interest in Zhu Houzhao's schoolwork.

Because now Zhu Youtang’s mind is full of pacifying the grassland and thinking about how to get along with Zhang Zhou in the future.

Xian Fei asked, "Then Your Majesty, will Mr. Zhang definitely come back?"

"Yes." Zhu Youtang smiled.

……

……

Zhu Youtang arrived in Binhai City very quickly. At noon on May 14, the imperial carriage and its entourage had already arrived, with basically no delay on the way.

After Zhu Youtang entered the city, although Zhang Zhou had not returned yet, he could not wait and went to check out several major military factories in the city in person, especially the shipyard and cannon factory. After the inspection, he was very satisfied.

But at this time, Zhang Zhouyi submitted a memorial, which was passed on to Zhu Youtang.

The memorial was brought by Xie Qian, who currently held no official position but had been serving as the emperor's personal aide.

"Your Majesty..." Xie Qian said, "I have seen it in advance. Zhang Bingkuan proposed in his memorial that he would personally lead the fleet out to sea and go to the East Ocean. It seems that he wants to... personally expand the territory for Your Majesty."

Zhu Youtang took it and looked at it. The more he looked at it, the worse his expression became.

Xie Qian said: "He also requested that his family members accompany him. I think this is inappropriate."

Zhu Youtang said coldly: "Of course I know this is inappropriate. Although I have said that no matter what choice Bingkuan makes, I will agree with it, but this matter..."

"Your Majesty, are you going to object?" Xie Qian's expression clearly said, why don't you help him?
"Mr. Xie, what do you mean?" Zhu Youtang couldn't help but ask.

Xie Qian sighed, "It has always been the case that a person's achievements are greater than his master's. With Zhang Bingkuan's achievements on the grassland, when he returns to the court, everyone in the court will be wary of him, and even Your Majesty will have a rift with him. In the land of China today, among the foreign countries surrounding it, which one is a threat to the Ming Dynasty?"

Zhu Youtang frowned and said, "Why is everyone telling me that when the birds are gone, the bows are put away and the rabbits are dead, the dogs are cooked? Is there no trust between the monarch and his subjects?"

"Your Majesty, this is an eternal truth. Even if you can show kindness to Zhang Bingkuan, how will he stand? People in the court are no longer against him, but afraid of him. How can he win the hearts of the people in the court like this?" Xie Qian also tried to persuade him earnestly.

Zhu Youtang asked, "Why should we be afraid? Just because he brought 3,000 soldiers and horses, he destroyed the Tatars?"

Xie Qian said, "You may not be afraid now, because there is a bond between the monarch and his subjects, but can this bond last from beginning to end? What about the future? I will say something that is very disrespectful. If the prince ascends the throne in the future, but is a stubborn monarch who does not make progress and even wants to go to war with Zhang Bingkuan, do you think... the prince can defeat him?"

"you……"

Zhu Youtang glared at Xie Qian.

Xie Qian made up his mind and said, "I am old and have died once before, so I am not afraid to say that again. However, Zhang Bingkuan also suggested that he could let his eldest son Zhang Jun continue to stay in the court to gain experience. From what I think, he probably wants to keep a hostage to ease your majesty's mind."

At this time Zhu Youtang was silent.

……

……

For two consecutive days, Zhu Youtang did not leave the palace.

He looked somewhat dejected, and was obviously feeling unhappy about Zhang Zhou's proposal to go out to sea.

In the end, he summoned Xie Qian to the palace.

"I have thought it through." Zhu Youtang said, "I agree to let him go to sea for two years. As long as he can come back after two years, I will confer him the title of king. By then, the matter will have faded and the court will have almost forgotten about him. Then no one will talk about him anymore."

Xie Qian said: "Your Majesty is wise."

"Mr. Xie, you have long hoped that I would let Bingkuan go to sea, and even thought that it would be better if he never came back, right?" Zhu Youtang asked.

Xie Qian shook his head and said, "This old minister does not think so, Your Majesty, please do not speculate too much."

"Then I want to know what you think now, Mr. Xie, can you answer me?" Zhu Youtang said sternly.

Xie Qian sighed and said, "Your Majesty, if he goes out to sea and develops overseas, or even sends a fleet back to Ming to threaten Ming, can you guard against it?"

Zhu Youtang said: "I don't believe it."

Xie Qian said: "Then don't come back forever."

“……” Zhu Youtang was speechless after hearing this.

You are so good, Xie Qian. You look honest and loyal, and you even gave your granddaughter to Zhang Bingkuan as a concubine. It turns out that you were thinking about how to guard against Zhang Bingkuan?
"I have done all this for the Ming Dynasty," Xie Qian argued. "If Your Majesty feels that I have selfish motives, you can just kill me. Or if he wants me to go to sea with him, that's not a bad idea."

"Okay, you are an old man, can you go to sea? Just let your eldest son go."

Zhu Youtang said, "Also, send another decree to Bingkuan, asking him to bring his fleet to Binhai City and set sail from Binhai City. I will personally send him off."

Xie Qian nodded and said, "That's fine." (End of this chapter)