Chapter 3, Zhu Di's Secret Son

In the ninth year of the Hongwu era, Zhu Di married the daughter of the renowned general Xu Da, Xu Shi, who was the foremost among the six kings of the founding of the Ming Dynasty.

I occasionally have dreams like that

Upon hearing this, Zhu Di's hostility dissipated, and a look of deep contemplation crossed his face

In my humble opinion, given Your Majesty's temperament, the likelihood of selecting from among the imperial grandchildren is the greatest

In this way, Your Highness will have the opportunity

Just as in the past with the Blue Jade Fishing Sea, Zhu Di, after enduring numerous hardships, finally located the remnants of the Northern Yuan army

For Zhu Di, these renowned generals were his admirers. In every battle, Zhu Di humbly learned from them, and in response to the inquiries of the Prince of Yan, many distinguished generals generously imparted their knowledge.

For a decade in Beiping, renowned generals Fu Youde, Feng Sheng, and Lan Yu all used Beiping as a starting point to campaign against the Northern Yuan.

However, King Zhu Jian of Jin was fierce in battle, yet he feared excessive losses and did not dare to venture deep into the heart of Mongolia

This expedition was led by Duke Fu Youde of Yingshan as the General of the Expeditionary Forces, with Marquis Zhao Yong of Nanhong and Marquis Cao Xing of Huaiyuan serving as the left and right Deputy Generals, respectively. Marquis Wang Bi of Dingyuan and Marquis Sun Ke of Quanning were appointed as the left and right Assistant Generals, overseeing the troops during the campaign

Regarding what Yao Guangxiao said, he believes it is quite reasonable

With the appearance and demeanor of this young man Zhu Ying, if he were to appear in the capital or be seen by His Majesty, he would surely be regarded as a prematurely deceased grandson

However, when faced with Yao Guangxiao's profound gaze, all words seemed to be stuck in the throat

Notify the Crown Prince to accompany me to the capital for the memorial service

Everything goes smoothly, which is certainly excellent; however, if there are any mishaps, it will not lead to a state of confusion.

After the courier left, Zhu Di took a long time to recover, and then he issued an order

Subsequently, King Yan, Zhu Di, without expending a single soldier, persuaded Nai'er Buhua to surrender

What he cares about is merely whether the situation can become more chaotic

In the twenty-third year of the Hongwu era, Zhu Yuanzhang, facing repeated border troubles from the former Yuan Chancellor Yaozhu, the Grand Marshal Nairu Bu Hua, and the Director of the Academy Alutiemuer, commanded Prince Jin Zhu Zhan and Prince Yan Zhu Di to divide their forces into two routes and launch another offensive against the Northern Yuan.

In the third year of the Hongwu era, Zhu Di was ten years old and was granted the title of Prince of Yan

Clearly, the imperial throne has made him somewhat irritable, after all, this is a possibility he has long yearned for

"Why did you specifically seek me out?" Zhu Di asked with some curiosity at that time

Zhu Di aspired to become emperor, in his dreams

Given the current situation, in Zhu Di's view, as long as he can make a fair choice with the Emperor of Books, his competitiveness will be the strongest

Among all his brothers, the second brother Zhu Yan was excessively indulgent, and the third brother Jin Wang Zhu Jin was even more so; he had only recently been overshadowed by his own brother and had long since become a mere supporting character

In this way, Zhu Di's military achievements appear even more outstanding

Your Highness, this is a rare opportunity bestowed by heaven

After the bystanders had left, Yao Guangxiao noticed that Zhu Di's expression had returned to normal, so he approached Zhu Di and whispered in his ear

"What can a monk offer to this king?" Zhu Di said with a smile, not paying much attention. He lacked for gold and silver treasures, and as the King of Yan, he was indeed one man beneath the heavens, above all others.

At last, there is hope for the realization of dreams, yet Yao Guangxiao comes to shatter it, provoking an uncontrollable sense of brutality in Zhu Di

The Ming Dynasty possessed a formidable military strength, exhibiting a crushing momentum. However, the climate in the heartland of Mongolia is harsh and the territory is exceedingly vast. If one were to rashly venture in, over time, it could lead to significant peril

Ultimately, perhaps only Zhu Di himself can truly know what he was thinking

"If Your Highness chooses me, in the future, this humble monk is willing to present a white hat to Your Highness" said Yao Guangxiao softly

Zhu Yuanzhang was over sixty years old, which was considered a long life during the era of the Ming Dynasty

He was the King of Yan, having grown up in the military camps amidst turmoil from a young age, and he displayed exceptional military talent even in his childhood

Upon hearing this, Zhu Di was greatly alarmed, his expression changed dramatically, and he was about to erupt in anger

However, no matter how deeply he hides it, it is still seen through by those who are perceptive, and this person is now the abbot of Qingshou Temple, Yao Guangxiao

In the fifteenth year of the Hongwu era, Empress Ma passed away. Zhu Yuanzhang selected eminent monks from among the common people to accompany the princes, reciting scriptures and praying for blessings

The emperor's position is too great, leaving behind a hidden pawn is extremely necessary

Chancellor Wang Bi commanded the troops from Shanxi to follow the orders of King Jin, while the rest were to obey the commands of King Yan, Zhu Di

Why do you think that Father will not choose me

Only in a chaotic situation can he have the possibility to realize his ambitions

Once Zhu Ying is recognized as the former Crown Prince Zhu Xiong Ying, it is highly likely that he will be designated as the heir.

He is also a human, and naturally, he yearns for that position as well

In the thirteenth year of the Hongwu era, Zhu Di, at the age of twenty-one by nominal reckoning, was enfeoffed in Yanjing (Beiping)

At the age of thirty, Zhu Di became the commander-in-chief of the army

The monk has a great gift to present

Zhu Yunjin and Zhu Yunwen are merely two immature children who have not yet outgrown their infancy

Although Zhu Di had little formal education, he was still very clear about the meaning of "the king is superior to the white"

"Yes, Your Highness." Upon hearing this, Ma Sanbao immediately went to look for the heir, Zhu Gaochi

But does Yao Guangxiao care about these things

Upon thinking of this, Zhu Di summoned the guards

At that time, Yao Guangxiao was recommended by the left minister of the Monastic Records, Sheng Shizong, and successfully served Zhu Di.

In the end, he whispered softly: "Come with me."

However, he is well aware that with his elder brother present, this delusion can only be buried deep within his heart

Yao Guangxiao was not afraid to speak any words of great rebellion, directly stating:

With the passing of the Crown Prince, Your Majesty naturally must select another from among the many princes and grandsons to inherit the throne

Zhu Di said somewhat arrogantly, while a fierce aura emanated from the depths of his eyes

The passing of the Crown Prince is a matter of great significance that cannot be delayed. As the day is already late, Zhu Di will set out early tomorrow morning

Zhu Di was granted the fief of Beiping, which was the former capital of the previous dynasty. As the fourth son of Zhu Yuanzhang, his trustworthiness goes without saying

In this expedition, the most challenging aspect is not defeating the enemy, but rather locating them

Yao Guangxiao's words are very clear; he intends to take this opportunity to bring Zhu Ying and the - map - book to the capital, and even arrange for a chance encounter with Zhu Yuanzhang

Hearing this, Zhu Di frowned and looked at Yao Guangxiao, saying, "What do you mean by that?"

In this case, who else but me could occupy the throne!

Zhu Di gritted his teeth and took the risk to enter, knowing that this was extremely important for him and that he could only go all out.

It was said: "Your Highness currently holds a significant advantage, yet the thoughts of His Majesty are inscrutable. In my humble opinion, it would be better to place Zhu Ying in the capital, as it could serve as a hidden piece."

Zhu Ying's identity is naturally known to Zhu Di and Yao Guangxiao

Transmit this royal decree: Merchant Zhu Ying is to prepare his travel belongings and set out with this king tomorrow morning, heading south to the capital to pay respects.

Even knowing that Yao Guangxiao could utter such words and was certainly not a proper monk, Zhu Di still brought him back to Beiping and appointed him as the abbot of Qingshou Temple

Just like a cunning rabbit has three burrows, the Emperor is unsure of what he thinks

Certainly, if it is indeed possible to elevate Zhu Ying to the throne at that time, it will undoubtedly lead to a bloody storm.

The fifth brother, King Ding of Zhou, Zhu Zhi, is the biological brother of Zhu Di. His abilities are not to be mentioned, and by position, it is not his turn.

Yao Guangxiao looked at Zhu Di's extremely confident expression and saw no need to pour a bucket of cold water on him, thus inviting unnecessary displeasure