Ming Dynasty: Zhu Biao's younger brother, the most rebellious son in history

Chapter 56: Let Zhu Yuanzhang become a tyrant?
Song Lian scolded Zhu Kai with a face full of resentment: "You are talking nonsense!"

Wang Guangyang spoke tactfully: "The Second Prince has never experienced state affairs, so he doesn't quite understand the key. It's not easy to raise food and grass."

Zhao Yong also said to Zhu Kai: "Second Prince, this is a matter of state, please don't joke around."

"Is it difficult? I don't think it's difficult."

Zhu Kai shrugged indifferently, ignoring the three people present, and then said:

"Dad, I have a plan. We can provide a year's supply of food and grass for the 400,000-man army before we go to war."

Before Zhu Yuanzhang could speak, Song Lian said sinisterly:
"Second Prince, a national war is no small matter. You must be responsible for every word and action. If your plan cannot be carried out, you must be punished according to military regulations."

Zhu Kai curled his lips in disdain: "I can't do it, I am willing to be punished, even my head is fine."

"What would you do if I did?"

Zhu Kai stared at Song Lian and said, "Since you don't believe it, how about we make a bet? I can't give you my head, but the strategy I mentioned can help us raise enough food and grass before the 400,000-man army sets out. How about you give me your head?"

Zhu Yuanzhang was very angry when he heard what Zhu Kai said!
Kai'er is usually very smart, why is he a little stupid now?
Putting aside each other's identities, Song Lian is already old. Isn't it a total loss to gamble your life with him?

"Second brother, don't mess around!"

Zhu Biao signaled with his eyes, telling him not to say such things, what if he lost the bet?
Bet your life with Zhu Kai?
Song Lian's eyes suddenly lit up, he didn't lose out at all.

I am old and may die at any time. If I can take Zhu Kai with me when I leave, it will be a good thing for the Ming Dynasty.

Zhu Yuanzhang planned to send out an army of 200,000 and prepare a year's worth of food.

Zhu Kai directly increased the number of people to 400,000, and the number of laborers escorting food and fodder would also increase accordingly... At least 100,000 laborers would be needed to build roads through mountains and bridges over rivers.

With this calculation, Zhu Kai has to prepare food and fodder for 500,000 people, as well as the consumption of war horses!
Song Lian doesn’t think that Ming Dynasty can support such a huge consumption with its current national strength!
"Okay! I promise you!"

Song Lian raised his hand, fearing that Zhu Kai would regret it: "Let's high-five to swear!"

Zhu Kai stepped forward and clapped his hands against Song Lian. This time he used quite a bit of force and almost broke Song Lian's arm: "You..."

"What do you mean by 'I'? You said we should high-five each other to swear an oath. What's wrong with me doing that?"

Zhu Kai curled his lips and then said:
"Old Song, listen carefully. I said that we should gather all the food before the 400,000-man army sets out... Since we can't gather all the food, we can wait until we have enough before setting out."

"..."

"..."

"..."

"..."

"..."

The five of them were speechless.

Zhu Yuanzhang had a black line on his forehead!
He thought that the solution Zhu Kai proposed was a good one, but who knew that he would only be told to gather enough food and supplies before going on the expedition.

If we gather enough food and supplies before going on the expedition, why would we ask you to come over?
Zhu Biao was also helpless, but he wanted to laugh helplessly.

My second younger brother has never suffered any loss when betting with others.

For example, the future hope of a certain Ming Dynasty general who does not want to reveal her name...Miss Lan.

He made an arm wrestling bet with Zhu Kai in the past and was defeated by Zhu Kai directly. Now he is making another bet... Mr. Song can't save his head anymore.

"..."

Wang Guangyang and Zhao Yong rolled their eyes after hearing this.

I thought it was a good plan, but I didn't expect this to happen. It was all in vain.

Thinking that they were full of expectations for Zhu Kai, Wang Guangyang and Zhao Yong looked down on themselves.

When did my brain become so confused that I actually believed the Second Prince!

"Old Song, you lost, didn't you?" Zhu Kai laughed and looked at Song Lian, and shouted at the same time: "Yuan Qi, do you have a knife? Give our Grand Secretary Song a knife."

"you……"

Song Lian's face turned purple with anger!
He really couldn't imagine why Zhu Kai would come up with such a shameless idea.

I was so angry that I didn't even notice the loophole in the second prince's words.

Thinking that his life was lost because of his momentary negligence, Song Lian looked anxiously at Zhu Yuanzhang for help: "Your Majesty, he..."

Zhu Yuanzhang was also very happy in his heart. He felt that his own Kai'er was really powerful. It was actually possible that the old stubborn Song Lian could fall into Kai'er's trap.

Very good, you are worthy of being the Zhu family's young tiger.

Zhu Yuanzhang was very happy to see Zhu Kai playing tricks on the ministers in the court, which showed that the Ming Dynasty had successors, but he was the emperor after all, so even if he was very happy, he could not express it directly. Facing Song Lian who came to complain, he could only persuade him kindly: "Okay, okay, Jing Lian, don't take Kai'er's jokes to heart. What about betting or not, haha... don't take it seriously."

Zhu Biao lowered his head in embarrassment. He could no longer stand this father and son teaming up to bully court officials.

Dad, just advise me if you want to, why did you add that question about whether we bet or not?
Isn't this like stabbing Song Lian in the back?

Zhu Yuanzhang seemed to realize that he couldn't show too much joy, so he pretended to be very serious and said, "Okay, this is Jinshen Palace, not a vegetable market or a field, what's the point of betting... Kai'er, do you have any good ideas? If you have one, tell me, if not, go back."

"Yes, of course."

Zhu Kai curled his lips, signaling Zhu Yuanzhang not to look down on him.

The second northern expedition after the founding of the Ming Dynasty began in the first month of the fifth year of Hongwu. However, Zhu Kai still asked:

"Dad, when are we going to march north?"

Zhu Yuanzhang replied: "It is tentatively scheduled to be dispatched in the first month of the year."

"That's absolutely no problem. We'll be able to gather all the food and supplies soon."

Zhu Kai looked at Zhu Yuanzhang and said with a smile: "As long as your majesty issues an imperial decree, families with food and fodder can naturally send food to the front line, and we can even hire fewer civilians."

After hearing Zhu Kai's plan, Wang Guangyang, Zhao Yong, Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhu Biao all became serious!

They felt that Zhu Kai seemed to really have a plan.

Song Lian was still angry. After learning from the bet just now, he had become wary of Zhu Kai!

But at the same time, he also looked down on Zhu Kai. He didn't think Zhu Kai could come up with any good solution.

All the civil and military officials in the court couldn’t think of it, so how could Zhu Kai figure it out?

impossible!
Absolutely impossible!
If Zhu Kai, this stubborn troublemaker, could come up with a solution, Song Lian would dare to twist off his head and let Zhu Yuanzhang kick it like a ball!
Then, Song Lian heard Zhu Kai's words: "Dad, you just need to issue an imperial decree, and anyone who delivers food to the frontline can be granted a title regardless of their status! Haha... Aren't there many places in the world that lack officials? As long as they transport food to the frontline, they can get an official title."

"Oh, there is another idiom to describe my strategy, which is selling official positions and titles!"

"..."

"..."

"..."

"..."

"..."

The five were so shocked that they were speechless.

How dare Zhu Kai propose such a solution!

This……

Wouldn't this make Zhu Yuanzhang a tyrant?

Selling official positions and titles is an idiom used to describe a corrupt and incompetent emperor. It is by no means a compliment. The most famous example should be Emperor Ling of the Han Dynasty in the late Eastern Han Dynasty. Under the leadership of the "Ten Eunuchs", he started a business in the imperial palace, which was selling official positions and titles.

Today, Zhu Kai used the idiom "selling official positions and titles" as a strategy to raise food and fodder for the soldiers on the front line. What kind of strategy is this?
Did he think Zhu Yuanzhang's life was not long enough and wanted to anger Zhu Yuanzhang to death so that he could rebel?
(End of this chapter)