Daming: I am the Crown Prince

Chapter 102 Adding Firewood
The 25th year of Hongwu passed just like that, and Lee Seong-gye established the Joseon Dynasty. That was an affair outside the Ming Dynasty and had no impact for the time being.

For the Ming Dynasty, the biggest events were the death of Crown Prince Zhu Biao in April and his burial in August, and the enthronement of Crown Prince Zhu Yunhuan in September.

At the end of this year, there is another incident that makes many people feel uneasy.

That is, Emperor Hongwu's health might not be able to bear it. Not only various rumors, but also the secret observation of some civil and military officials could sense that the emperor was not as healthy as before.

In the blink of an eye, it was the 26th year of Hongwu. The biggest event in history of that year was the Lan Yu case.

But Lan Yu is now full of energy and he is very busy.

The emperor was not in good health, so Lan Yu controlled the Central Army Commandery according to the order of the Crown Prince. Xu Huizu transferred the Front Army Commandery to Li Jinglong, leaving him in charge of the Left Army Commandery and Fu Youde in charge of the Rear Army Commandery.

The Right Army Commandery is not controlled by Duke Feng Sheng of Song, as he is currently training troops outside. Instead, it is controlled by Chang Sheng, a representative of the dissolute among the nobles.

There is nothing wrong with the five dukes controlling the Five Military Commandery. However, many people see Lan Yu and Chang Sheng, and think of their control over the troops and their relationship with the Crown Prince.

Princess Anqing looked at Zhu Yunhuan with a worried look on her face and asked, "Yunhuan, during the Lantern Festival, I saw that your royal grandfather seemed to have aged a little."

Zhu Yunhuan comforted her and said, "It's okay, don't worry, it's not a problem."

"No problem?" Princess Anqing said anxiously, "What are the rumors going around? If this continues, we should call your uncles back to the capital."

Zhu Yunxun said quickly, "It's fake. I won't tell anyone else, not even my two sisters. It's all fake. He's fishing now to let the restless people show up."

Princess Anqing immediately asked suspiciously, "Could this be fake?"

"Why can't it be fake?" Zhu Yunhuan joked with a smile, "If he was still the same as before, who would dare to act rashly? Now that he is old and I am not in charge, some people have become more active."

Princess Anqing immediately asked suspiciously, "Like Hu Ni did back then?"

After all, she had witnessed the Hu Weiyong case. Even if she did not participate in it, she had heard and seen some of it. Princess Anqing still had some knowledge about it.

Zhu Yunhuan nodded and said, "Almost the same, but now it's either to deal with Hu Ni or to clean up the government. Only the younger aunt can know about this, the older aunt cannot know."

"You are bullying me because I am a widow, right?" Princess Anqing said angrily, "Well, since you are all pretending, I will take you sisters out of the palace to pray for blessings. Let's do the whole show."

Zhu Yunhuan immediately said happily, "Praying for blessings is not enough, we also need to think about showing kindness. When my grandmother was alive, she set up a red warehouse to help the families of scholars in need. My aunt took my sisters to show kindness."

Princess Anqing immediately felt that she had been fooled and regretted it. "If I hadn't come to ask you, you would have found a reason to tell me, right?"

Zhu Yunhuan did not admit it, but he definitely did not deny it either.

It's because his sisters are not very sensitive to some things. Now there is no one in charge in the harem, so he can only trouble his younger sister to step forward.

Especially when you know something, it would not be appropriate if you don’t do something about it.

Seeing Zhu Yunhuan trying to run away, Princess Anqing was furious, "What have you learned? You even scheme against your own family!"

It’s better not to say anything to avoid being nagged further.

Not many people know about Lao Zhu's physical condition, but there are indeed quite a few people who care about this matter.

Only by casting a long line can you catch big fish. If you don't muddy the water, some fish hiding in the water will be unwilling to show their heads.

Just during the Lantern Festival, Prince Su Zhu Jian was stationed in Pingliang Prefecture, acting as the military affairs of the Five Guards of Ganzhou, Shaanxi Xingdusi.

On the same day, Liao Wang Zhu Zhi was enfeoffed in Guangning. Because the Liao Wang's palace had not yet been built, he temporarily stayed in the north of Daling River.

On the same day, it was announced that Prince Qing Zhu Zan would be sent to be a vassal. Originally, he was supposed to move to Ningxia Town, his fiefdom, but Ningxia was close to the border and a newly established war zone, so it was difficult to guarantee the prince's safety and bear the huge economic burden on the palace.

The imperial court ordered Prince Qing to temporarily move his headquarters to Weizhou City, and authorized him to take charge of the military affairs of Qingyang, Ningxia, Yan'an, and Suide, and to be responsible for guarding the border territory.

Prince Ning Zhu Quan was granted the title of Daning. When he was less than 15 years old, he had to take on the important task of guarding the south of the desert.

No matter whether there are nine frontier kings or thirteen frontier kings, there are now four more frontier kings enfeoffed in the Ming Dynasty.

This is not enough. In the next two or three years, more princes will be enfeoffed.

In the northern defense line built by Zhu Yuanzhang, the King of Yan in Peking, the King of Ning in Daning, the King of Jin in Taiyuan, the King of Dai in Datong, the King of Liao in Guangning, the King of Qin in Xi'an, the King of Gu in Xuanfu, the King of Su in Ganzhou, the King of Qing in Ningxia, the King of An in Pingliang, the King of Qi in Kaiping, the King of Shenyang, and the King of Han in Kaiyuan are distributed on the Mobei border defense line from the northeast to the northwest.

When the country was just beginning to settle down and the border was vast and remote, the vassal kings had to be in charge. Every autumn, the kings would go out of the border to capture prisoners and clear the desert, which was also a reserved activity.

Each of these frontier kings was quite capable. In Zhu's opinion, only those who were brave and wise could guard the frontier. Some people envied these princes' enfeoffment, and some were reluctant to let them go. However, all this could not change Zhu's determination.

Zhu Yunhuan also did not think that the Kings of the Frontiers were a threat. Judging from the current situation, it would be more appropriate to continue to maintain high pressure on the nomadic peoples.

As for the continuous development of the vassal kings, etc., let's not talk about the various restrictions imposed by the court on the vassal kings. Simply looking at historical events, it can be understood that the military power of the vassal kings was taken away without bloodshed during the Yongle Dynasty.

Zhu Yunhuan sent off the princes and returned to the palace. "Grandfather, none of my uncles were reluctant to leave Beijing. They all happily became vassal kings."

Old Zhu was immediately angry, "We can't bear to leave them, but they can't bear to leave us! We are not healthy anymore, but they don't worry about us?"

"I am worried for sure, but it's hard to say." Zhu Yunhuan joked, "Even though I'm a vassal, I still have to come back after a while!"

This is also the truth. It's not to bother people, but the princes will come back after they have established their fiefdoms and settled everything.

Normally, these princes would come back once every half a year.

"Second uncle heard some noises and is coming back to pay homage." Zhu Yunhuan said to Old Zhu with a smile, "Fifth uncle is the most anxious. If the people in the palace hadn't stopped him, he would have run back."

Old Zhu was both angry and relieved, "If he really comes back, we will kill him!"

Zhu Yunhuan said disapprovingly, "As soon as he ran away, the person delivering the imperial edict arrived right after him. How could he have left his fiefdom without permission?"

Old Zhu became serious, "Your uncles should keep this a secret. We don't want to see internal strife, but if something really happens, we have to deal with it."

Zhu Yunhuan advised, "Not really, uncles, not really."

"That being said, I'm afraid they are bullying you because you're young!" Old Zhu said worriedly, "If we pretend to be sick now, those civil officials will be restless, and some members of the royal family may also have some ideas."

Zhu Yunhuan immediately said, "Yunwen just wrote a memorial. He was very capable in his duties in Hangzhou and did not overstep his authority at all."

Old Zhu smiled and nodded, then said, "Let's see. If we can keep them under control now, they will kowtow to you. If we fail, let's see if they are still restless!"

When fishing, the main target is naturally the civil servants in the south of the Yangtze River, who are the focus of Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhu Yunhuan's attention.

However, if a member of the royal family goes mad or becomes restless, only one or two can be dealt with.

Both Zhu and Zhu Yunhuan understood that their status was set. However, some people suddenly became interested in the huge temptation. They were honest and contented in the past only because they thought they had no chance.

Old Zhu didn't want to see this happen, and Zhu Yunhuan didn't want to see this happen either.

It's not necessarily that they are worried that the world that has just been pacified will become full of smoke of war again and the people will suffer, but they simply don't want to fight against each other.

Whether he was lurking under Guo Zixing, or sitting in Yingtian Prefecture and becoming a hegemon, or now vying for the throne of the world, Zhu Yuanzhang has never lacked various struggles and means.

Looking at Zhu Yunhuan, Old Zhu explained seriously, "I'm afraid that this time we can only use our fake illness once. If we use it too many times, those people won't be fooled."

Zhu Yunhuan nodded and said with some concern, "It's just that if I say I have to pretend for a year, I'm afraid it's a bit difficult."

"It doesn't matter. I'm not paralyzed and can't speak." Lao Zhu said confidently, "If you want to mess up a few things, I have to make a few mistakes here, so that I can deceive people!"

Zhu Yunhuan understood immediately and said, "Then you can only find some harmless little things, otherwise it will be bad. I have been a playboy for a while, and I am good at this."

"Then let's be confused for a few times." Old Zhu showed a teachable look and said, "The old ones are useless, and the young ones are making trouble. We need some strong medicine!"

Zhu Yunhuan thought of something and said, "Oh, right, the Jinyiwei reported that the powerful officials in Goryeo had usurped the throne. They should have sent an envoy to report this, so that grandfather would no longer recognize that vassal state!"

Old Zhu was stunned for a moment. He had always been dissatisfied with Goryeo. The King of Goryeo had previously accepted the title bestowed by the Ming Dynasty, but changed his attitude in an instant.

It's usurping the throne, so be it; Zhu Yuanzhang doesn't care.

Lao Zhu thought about it and said, "Well, I won't admit this. I'm confused."

Old Zhu continued, "You can be a playboy, but the Five Military Commanders' Office must step up its efforts. It will be better if we can keep it a secret from the world. Then we can get rid of those disloyal people in one go!"

Zhu Yuanzhang never liked civil servants in East Zhejiang. Whether it was Liu Ji or Wang Guangyang, Zhu Yuanzhang didn't like them. But he had to make use of their abilities.

Now that the country has been established, the civil service group is constantly developing, so naturally there must be checks and balances.

Especially now, we must not allow the court to be filled with southern civil servants, otherwise the north that we have worked so hard to regain will be ruined.

It would be worthwhile to add fuel to the fire and spend more than a year to rebuild the court structure!
(End of this chapter)