Ming Dynasty: What's wrong with being a leisurely crown prince?

Chapter 37 Hey, Second Brother, didn't you want to challenge the old man to a duel?

Zhu Di watched as Zhu Gaoxu's expression changed, and he suddenly froze, looking completely bewildered. Zhu Di immediately understood.

Zhu Di breathed a sigh of relief. He thought to himself, "When did Zhu Gaoxu come up with these ideas? This is how Zhu Gaoxu should act when it comes to matters of state."

Just moments ago he was filled with doubt and suspicion, wondering when his son had changed his gender and when he had undergone such a dramatic transformation as Zhu Gaochi. Now, he was finally back to normal.

Zhu Gaoxu usually spends all his time practicing with others, and he basically does nothing about literature. No matter how much he becomes enlightened, it's impossible for him to suddenly become like this.

With Zhu Gaochi as a living example before him, he couldn't be completely certain, and even held a sliver of hope for Zhu Gaoxu.

At this moment, that last glimmer of hope was finally extinguished.

But after seeing the reality clearly, Zhu Di was both angry and amused by Zhu Gaoxu.

Zhu Di had a pretty good idea of ​​where Zhu Gaoxu had gotten all this information from. What angered him was that the person had actually believed what he was told. Was this person's brain just wasted?

More importantly, this person hadn't even heard the whole thing before starting to bring it up. Zhu Di was at a loss for words, unsure whether to be angry at Zhu Gaochi for being so stupid or at himself for having such a foolish son who only knew how to fight.

As for Yue, he is now completely at ease with Zhu Gaoxu. This man is a bit cunning, but that's about it.

And this matter truly amused him.

Zhu Di's heart was filled with complex emotions. Of his three sons, the eldest was intelligent and capable in governing the country, but he was utterly incompetent in military affairs.

The second son is brave and skilled in battle, but he's incapable of scheming or handling state affairs.

The third son is neither good at academics nor martial arts, but he is quite clever, has many ideas, is obedient, and has a very deep mind, yet he is indecisive.

Sometimes Zhu Di missed his fourth son who died young, thinking, "Couldn't I have combined the best qualities of all three of them?"

Everyone is different, which gives him a real headache.

Seeing that Zhu Gaoxu was still speechless, Zhu Di decided to teach him a lesson this time.

"Second brother, tell me, I'm listening. Getting money and supplies from those people is indeed a good idea, but how can we get them to hand them over willingly without affecting local stability?"

Zhu Di looked at Zhu Gaoxu with an expectant expression, as if he had been piqued by Zhu Gaoxu's interest.

Zhu Di was not in a hurry; what he wanted to know more about was what Zhu Gaoxu would say.

Zhu Gaoxu listened to Zhu Di's words, but even though Zhu Di was right in front of him, he didn't dare to look up at all.

Zhu Gaoxu kept thinking, trying to come up with a solution on his own.

Even at this point, Zhu Gaoxu had not yet doubted Zhu Gaochi, because so far Zhu Di's performance showed that he was right, which meant that Zhu Gaochi's method was sound.

He didn't ask Zhu Gaochi about the specifics.

Moreover, he believed that he was no less capable than Zhu Gaochi, and now he was just one step away from success. He was confident that Zhu Gaoxu could figure it out.

Zhu Gaoxu kept thinking, wishing that this stubborn brain would come up with a faster idea.

After a long while, under Zhu Di's still expectant gaze, Zhu Gaoxu raised his head, his face full of determination.

"Father, to get what we need from those people, have the Embroidered Uniform Guard investigate them. There are definitely some corrupt individuals among them. Once we find them, we'll confiscate their property."

With so many people in the world, there's no need to investigate them all. Confiscating their property is enough to cover the expenses required by the imperial court.

Then taxes will be levied on them. They have money, grain, and land, so more taxes will be collected from them than from ordinary people.

Zhu Gaoxu became more and more excited as he spoke; in his view, this direction was definitely correct.

In Zhu Gaoxu's view, isn't it just about making money off these people?

If we change Zhu Di's question to this one, wouldn't it be much simpler?

Now, back to the question, he has a solution.

"And then there's Father. They have many concubines, so they have to pay taxes. Each concubine means an extra tax."

And their farmland, there must be many people hiding there. We need to find them all, remeasure and register them, and make them pay in full. Nobody wants to run away.

They still want to do business, earn so much money, but pay so little tax. How can this be allowed?

I believe that the bigger the business, the more taxes they have to pay, since they still make money even after paying taxes.

Zhu Gaoxu spoke eloquently, and his confidence gradually returned. He became increasingly convinced that he was right, and his heart burned with even greater enthusiasm.

In Zhu Gaoxu's view, he solved such a big problem, does this mean that he has the ability to govern the country?

In this respect, he is no less capable than Zhu Gaochi!

Moreover, he was not only good at governing the country, but also at fighting wars; he was a man of both literary and military talent!

Everyone underestimated and looked down on him, but this time he was going to show everyone that he, Zhu Gaochi, the Prince of Han of the Ming Dynasty, was also capable of governing the country.

"Father, as for labor, let the surrounding small countries contribute people, and also let them pay tribute every year."

If anyone refuses, we'll send troops directly, and who will dare say anything?

What kind of Celestial Empire was it? It was all earned through our own struggles. When our national strength declines, what does the Celestial Empire still mean to those people?

In my opinion, once the imperial court has the funds and supplies, it should immediately send troops to wipe out Annam in the southwest, Korea in the northeast, and the Tatars and Oirats in the north.

My Great Ming can not only expand its territory, but also bring people from those small countries to do these things, killing two birds with one stone.

"Dad, don't you think so?"

Zhu Gaochi looked at Zhu Di with excitement. He truly believed that what he said was extremely feasible and would be of no benefit to the Ming Dynasty and the court.

Zhu Di initially nodded in agreement with what Zhu Gaoxu said, suggesting that they fatten up some people first, and then find any excuse such as "remnants of Jianwen" to kill them directly.

But as he listened, Zhu Di felt more and more uneasy.

Zhu Gaochi said that everything would be taxed, and that the tax would not be targeted at ordinary people, but only at wealthy gentry.

Zhu Di's face grew darker and darker as he listened. In his view, if things continued like Zhu Gaochi's, the whole country would be thrown into chaos.

If he opens that door, those who implement it below will inevitably go even further.

Moreover, how can the court win the hearts of the people if it does this?

No dynasty in history dared to do this. How much must Zhu Gaochi have gotten himself into trouble to say such things?

He himself wanted to wage war against the surrounding areas, especially the Tatars and Oirats. His greatest wish in life was to resolve this border threat to the Ming Dynasty. In this way, with this achievement, he could go to see Zhu Yuanzhang and his ancestors after he passed away.

If what Zhu Gaochi said is true, with the world in chaos and trouble arising everywhere, how could he send troops to the Tatars and Oirats?

He's not that old now, but he's not young either.

Zhu Di had considered all of these things. What he needed now was not to let the various regions descend into chaos, but to stabilize the country.

Only when the world is stable can he begin his plans.

In terms of people's livelihood, he implemented benevolent policies, reduced taxes, minimized corvée labor, and carried out road construction and flood control, among other things.

Culturally, he commissioned the compilation of "The Great Collection of Documents," aiming to create the greatest book of all time and leave behind various legacies for future generations.

Militarily, he continuously expanded the surrounding areas and established garrisons to further reduce border troubles for the Ming Dynasty and make the border regions more stable.

The Hami Guard was established in the northwest, and troops were stationed there. Guard posts were set up in the Nurgan region of the northeast. In the northern frontier, the relocation of the capital was intended to further strengthen border defenses, enhance the ability to launch offensive attacks, and also to vigorously divide the grassland forces.

In the southwest, Annam is now on his planning list.

At sea, Zheng He's fleet was also dispatched to further demonstrate the power and prestige of the Ming Dynasty.

At the same time, we will focus on the military, fully support the research and development of firearms, and build a brand-new, powerful army.

He even made the destruction of the Tatars and Oirats his greatest goal in life, wanting to completely eliminate the border troubles of the Ming Dynasty in his lifetime.

Zhu Di didn't know if he could do it, but he knew one thing: he had to continuously weaken the Tatars and Oirats, and gradually expand his territory into the grasslands to build cities, so that the Ming Dynasty would be safer.

The first extraordinary book of all time, now being compiled, will be completed in the next year or two. After several years of recuperation, the situation in various parts of the Ming Dynasty has improved considerably.

Now, Zhu Di is obsessed with sending troops to the grasslands.

Now that Zhu Gaochi has done this, Zhu Di's face immediately darkened.

Are troops being deployed from surrounding areas?

Where in the surrounding area is it necessary to send troops?

Northwest? Northeast? Or the ocean?

There is no need to send troops to these places now. He has already sent people to lay the foundation in those places. As long as he increases his efforts, the Northwest, Nurgan, and the Jurchen areas in Liaodong will all belong to the Ming Dynasty. There is no need to send a single soldier.

He had already planned to send troops to Annam, but as for the Tatars and the Oirats, he still needed Zhu Gaoxu to tell them.

Both of these were actually not so bad. What troubled Zhu Di the most was the way Zhu Gaochi proposed to make money.

"Your Highness, are you trying to make the whole country uneasy? Are you trying to destabilize the Ming Dynasty?"

Tell me, what good does it do you if the world is in turmoil and the country is in disarray?

Or are you planning to use this method to create chaos in the world and then take advantage of the situation to do something?

"Your Highness, what are your true intentions?!"

Zhu Di's last words were a direct question, which stunned Zhu Gaoxu.

Zhu Gaoxu waited expectantly for Zhu Di's approval, but he never expected to receive this result.

Zhu Gaoxu was filled with disbelief, but looking at Zhu Di's gloomy face, he didn't know where he had gone wrong.

Faced with Zhu Di's final question, he knelt down on the ground.

"Father, I had no ulterior motives; I just wanted to solve the problem."

Zhu Gaoxu was now at a loss as to what he had said wrong that had aroused such suspicion in Zhu Di, and his heart was filled with bitterness and fear.

At this point, he no longer hoped to resolve the issue. Now, Zhu Di's question about Zhu Di's intentions left him even more bewildered.

Now he just wanted Zhu Di to stop thinking about it. He had no idea how to handle the matter at the moment.

Zhu Di looked at Zhu Gaoxu kneeling on the ground without saying a word.

He believed that Zhu Gaoxu had no ulterior motives; he had seen Zhu Gaoxu's expression just now.

Zhu Di was wondering how to resolve this matter.

After all, he was his own son, and he didn't want to discourage Zhu Gaoxu too much. If he was too harsh, the man in front of him would get angry.

Just then, footsteps approached. Zhu Di looked over and saw Zhu Gaochi walking slowly towards him.

"Dad, are you angry?"

Zhu Di bowed as Zhu Gaochi entered, initially thinking the matter would be easily resolved. However, upon hearing Zhu Gaochi's words, Zhu Di felt a vein throb on his forehead.

Look at this person, what are they saying? Isn't it infuriating?

Just then, Zhu Gaochi's voice came again.

"Hey, second brother, why are you kneeling on the ground again? Didn't you want to challenge the old man to a duel?"

As soon as he finished speaking, Zhu Di turned and looked at Zhu Gaoxu seriously.

Upon hearing Zhu Gaochi's words, Zhu Gaoxu, who was kneeling on the ground, felt a murderous urge.

Doesn't this person understand the current situation? Doesn't he know that Zhu Di is currently furious?

Now this person is going to pull this stunt, does he think he's not miserable enough already?

He was just joking about challenging Zhu Di to a duel. If he really dared, would he be kneeling here now?

Zhu Gaochi looked at Zhu Di, then at Zhu Gaoxu, and didn't think there was anything wrong with what he said. Instead, he had a smile on his face.

He had anticipated this outcome, which is why he waited a while before finally arriving at the palace, even though he was originally supposed to go.

Sensing the atmosphere gradually becoming subtle, Zhu Gaochi also stopped smiling.

"Father, what happened? If it's nothing serious, let the second son get up and speak."

"Your Highness, you're still just the Crown Prince. How come you're already teaching me how to do things?"

Zhu Di ignored Zhu Gaoxu and instead focused his efforts on Zhu Gaochi.

Compared to Zhu Gaoxu, he found Zhu Gaochi even more infuriating.

Those eyes seemed to be nonexistent.

That mouth of his seemed to be coated with poison.

"Father, I didn't say that. I was just asking out of curiosity what happened."

The second son is still your son. As long as it's not a big deal, a few words will suffice. It's best for the family to stay harmonious.

"Heh, boss, are you saying I'm petty? You think you're the only one in this family with a big heart?"

Zhu Gaochi was puzzled as he watched Zhu Di not respond at all and kept finding fault with him. It was just a small matter, why was Zhu Di making such a fuss about it?

He has now realized that Zhu Di can be quite petty at times.

"Father, I didn't say that. Besides, if you think I'm wrong, then I'll have to go to Mother for judgment."

"You brat, how old are you? All you do is go looking for your mother. You're a disgrace."

When Zhu Di heard that Zhu Gaochi was going to seek justice from Xu Miaoyun, he began to feel a little nervous.

In fact, he knew that Zhu Gaochi was just joking and wouldn't really go to see Xu Miaoyun, because Xu Miaoyun's health wasn't good right now, and he didn't want her to worry too much about their affairs.

But since Zhu Gaochi had offered this way out, Zhu Di was too lazy to pursue the matter further.

"Speak, what brings you here?"

"If you have something to say, say it. If not, both of you get out of here."

Hearing Zhu Di's annoyed tone, Zhu Gaochi immediately laughed.

Zhu Di was still concerned, but he was just being stubborn.

Upon hearing this, Zhu Gaoxu breathed a sigh of relief.

A moment later, Zhu Gaochi took out a memorial and presented it to Zhu Di with both hands.

"Father, this is the tutor I found for your grandson. Please review it."