Daming: I am the Crown Prince

Chapter 160 Now and Later
How to become richer while fighting wars is a very profound subject, and Zhu Yunhuan has also thought about it carefully.

It's just that judging from the current situation, it doesn't seem that simple. But he obviously won't give up easily, and still needs to make some attempts. This is a rare opportunity, and it is also an attempt to make Ming Dynasty richer and stronger.

On the eighth day of the eleventh lunar month, Zhu Yunhuan went straight to the Meridian Gate after finishing his morning court session. Some ministers had to wait even if they had something to report. If it was really urgent, then go and summon the emperor.

However, under such circumstances, the ministers would not feel that there was anything particularly important that needed to be reported today.

Zhu Yourong and Zhu Youling were already waiting, including Chang Sheng, who was already waiting in court robes. Although Zhu Yunhuan said that he did not need civil and military officials to accompany him, if he left the palace, he would not be alone.

Even the fourth brother Zhu Yunwen followed closely behind, and it was he who brought it up on his own initiative. In order to please his brother the Crown Prince, he had to perform better.

Seeing Zhu Yunhuan's expression and thinking about the current day, no one would joke at this time.

The group headed straight for Dulongfu on the southern foot of Purple Mountain, where the Xiaoling Mausoleum and the Eastern Mausoleum are located.

Looking at the stern-faced Fourth Brother, Zhu Yunxun said, "Go and pay respect to your eldest brother later. This matter cannot be taken lightly."

Zhu Yunwen immediately said, "Your Majesty, I have taught you that I dare not disrespect you, my elder brother."

Even though he had no impression of his elder brother Zhu Xiongying who had passed away long ago, the situation today was somewhat special, so Zhu Yunwen naturally did not dare to show any disrespect to his elder brother Zhu Xiongying. At least he had to show utmost respect and recognition on the surface.

After arriving at the Eastern Tomb, Zhu Yunhuan carefully inspected the Hall of Worship and other places after offering sacrifices. Some things need to be seen with one's own eyes to make one feel at ease.

Even though he understood that some officials and mausoleum guards here did not dare to be careless, and were even extremely careful. Because this was the mausoleum of the former crown prince Zhu Biao, whether it was because of the old Zhu or Zhu Yunhuan, the officials here would be extremely careful, but it was still necessary to take a closer look.

"Grandfather is still partial." Zhu Yourong said with some complaints, "My father's mausoleum is here. It's close, let alone for now. What will Yunhuan do if he really gets there?"

This sounds like it is extremely unlucky, but some things cannot be just auspicious or unlucky.

According to the custom of this era, the emperor would start building his mausoleum as soon as he ascended the throne. It was extremely rare for someone like Zhu Yuanzhang to start formally building his mausoleum more than ten years after he ascended the throne.

The Eastern Mausoleum was originally located next to the Xiaoling Mausoleum, but it was smaller in size. The front wall of the mausoleum is pointed at the front and curved at the back, forming a turtle-back shape. This is a unique pattern among the mausoleums of previous dynasties.

It has to be said that Zhu Yuanzhang was extremely partial to his eldest son Zhu Biao. He was always so special, whether he was alive or dead.

Even though Zhu Yunhuan would have posthumously conferred the titles of emperor and empress on Zhu Biao and Crown Princess Chang after he ascended the throne, the layout of the mausoleum had already been formed and basically could not be changed.

Zhu Yunhuan looked at his elder sister and said, "It's okay. Zijin Mountain is where the dragon vein of our Ming Dynasty is. There are other places with good feng shui. It's better to be farther away. I have been scolded since I was a child. I want to be quiet in the future."

Zhu Youling said, "Then my elder sister and I will follow you from now on, and we three siblings will live together."

"Then I will scold you to death. You will stay in Dongling from now on. Just choose a place that is not too far away." Zhu Yunhuan said with a smile, "It's not a big deal. Anyway, we should take care of the present first and think about the future later."

In fact, Zhu Yourong and Zhu Youling also knew that princesses were usually buried near their fathers' tombs.

Zhu Yunhuan observed the Xiaoling Mausoleum carefully and said, "Half of the seventy temples of the Southern Dynasties will be included in the Xiaoling Mausoleum Forbidden Garden."

Zhu Yourong looked at the Xiaoling Mausoleum, which already had various pavilions and towers, and said, "There are hundreds of deer now, and there will definitely be more in the future. We are also planting trees these years, and there will definitely be waves of pine trees here in the future."

Zhu Yunhuan smiled and said, "Hey, I have to discuss this with my grandfather when I get back. There are still many things I need to do."

This is not an exaggeration, it is the truth.

When Zhu Yuanzhang was gone, Zhu Yunhuan would definitely take care of his affairs after his death. At that time, the Xiaoling Mausoleum would have to be built, and monuments would have to be erected, and the sacred roads would have to be built, all of which would need to be completed by Zhu Yunhuan, the successor.

Xiaoling Mausoleum is a large project, which will definitely require continuous construction. At most, the main building and main frame are now completed, and there will only be a series of minor repairs in the future, which will also require time, manpower and financial resources.

After the sacrifice, Zhu Yunhuan and others did not stay for long and still had to return to the palace.

As a result, there were surprises as soon as she returned to the palace. Not only did her two biological aunts, Princess Anqing and Princess Ningguo, return to the palace, but Chang Lan also brought her three daughters-in-law into the palace, including Xu Miaojin, who was also called to the East Palace.

Zhu Yunhuan found it funny, "Grandfather is really a fool. It's my birthday, a junior's birthday, how can I trouble the elders?"

Chang Lan smiled and said, "If it were in the common people, the elders would celebrate the birthdays of the younger ones, so there would be no such thing as bothering or not."

Chang Fengshi stepped forward and said, "It was my late husband's fault that I was unable to help Your Highness."

Thinking of his uncle, Zhu Yunhuan was helpless, "Let's move my uncle back in two years, back to Huaiyuan hometown." Chang Lan was helpless when she mentioned her eldest son who was deposed and died in Longzhou. But it would be the best thing to be able to move his burial back to Huaiyuan hometown in two years.

Chang Lan smiled and said to Zhu Yunhuan, "Your Highness will be busy tomorrow, so eat a bowl of noodles to warm yourself up first."

Zhu Yunxun didn't hesitate to eat the noodle soup, and smiled and ate it all in one go. "Grandma, if there really is no gift, it won't work."

Chang Lan smiled and said, "I also know that Your Highness cares about the people, and I have nothing else to ask for. I have offered you a jade pendant before, and I hope Your Highness will accept it."

Zhu Yunhuan took the jade pendant with a smile. It was definitely not good enough for him to use, but the token of appreciation was enough.

Chang Fengshi stepped forward and said, "I have embroidered a cape for Your Highness to keep warm when he goes to court."

Zhu Yunxun smiled and stood up to take it, "Nephew thanks aunt."

Chang Fengshi was naturally happy. She had no children and could only follow her husband to live in Longzhou. If it weren't for this grandson, she would have to continue to suffer in a remote place.

All three aunts prepared gifts, which were mostly clothes they embroidered themselves.

The two aunts did not come empty-handed either. Princess Anqing even gave them a sword inlaid with many gems. It looked luxurious, but it would not be very useful if it was actually used.

"My aunt really understands me!" Zhu Yunhuan took the sword and said with a smile, "I will hang it in Wenhua Hall. Firstly, it will show the spirit of martial arts, and secondly, it can warn those dishonest ministers."

Princess Anqing joked, "If you really do this, my father won't scold you, but he will definitely scold me."

Zhu Yunhuan looked at Princess Anqing with a smile, and suddenly asked, "Aunt, have you gained weight, or something else?"

Princess Anqing blushed and then said, "What's wrong? I've been married for a while, and it's time for me to get pregnant."

Zhu Yunhuan immediately became happy, "That's good, it just so happens that my cousin was born first, and he can still take care of my offspring in the future. Second aunt, you and second uncle should also hurry up."

Princess Anqing, who was married for the second time, was already pregnant. This efficiency was actually quite good, but she was indeed of the right age.

Chang Lan and others were worried. What the Chang family lacked was a male heir, which was very worrying. Even though Chang Lan always prayed devoutly, her daughters-in-law were not pregnant, and even her sons' concubines were not pregnant.

But no matter what, this is some good news, and it is something worth being happy about and celebrating.

Xu Miaojin stepped forward amidst everyone's attention and said, "Your Highness, I am not good at needlework, so I have embroidered a brocade belt these days."

Zhu Yunhuan took the purse, looked at the fat little duck that looked like a mandarin duck, and laughed, "Very good, I'll take it with me."

Xu Miaojin's face turned even redder. Her needlework was not very good. She tried hard to embroider a mandarin duck, but she embroidered several, and the one she gave to Zhu Yunhuan was the best. However, it still did not look like a mandarin duck, at most it had some of the charm of a mandarin duck.

Gold, silver, jewelry, antiques, calligraphy and paintings, etc., these things did not mean much to Zhu Yunhuan. If it was a valuable gift, such as the imperial seal that Zhu Yunhuan had not been able to find even when he sent troops to the north, Zhu Yunhuan would be very interested in it, but unfortunately he could not find it.

So now it is enough to give some gifts that may not seem particularly valuable but are prepared with care.

Zhu Yunhuan felt that a simple birthday celebration with his family was enough.

However, when it was his actual birthday, he was supposed to attend court as a routine, but Zhu Yunhuan, who had not attended court for a long time, actually went to court and ordered all civil and military officials to congratulate Zhu Yunhuan on his birthday.

"Grandfather, I'm thinking that it's the end of the year now, and I have to arrange some things." After the morning court session, Zhu Yunhuan said to Old Zhu, "Next year I want to clean up the internal affairs again, and then the affairs of Wuyuan will be basically settled."

Old Zhu nodded and continued, "As for the issue of the treasure notes, we have to find some solutions next year. This year is a good thing. The treasure notes were not issued or printed in excess, and the officials are also trying to find a way to solve this problem."

This is not Zhu's self-deception. He has now begun to "tighten the money supply" and has not continued to issue treasure notes indiscriminately. He has even recalled a small batch and is also constantly conducting surveys.

Stopping the trend of continued depreciation of Baochao is considered a small victory.

Zhu Yunhuan also said, "That's right. The issue of Baochao must be resolved sooner or later. The longer it is delayed, the more trouble it will cause. Let's start working on it next year and try to get the Baochao issue sorted out in a few years."

Old Zhu was a little embarrassed. The treasure notes he got turned out to be such a huge landmine for his grandson, who had to spend a lot of time and energy to solve it. How embarrassing!

(End of this chapter)