Daming: Brother, there is no future for monks, let's rebel

Suddenly, all the lights in the palace went out. Under the silent night sky, dozens of Jinyiwei sneaked into the hiding place of Dongchang and the remnants of Zhao Mian like ghosts.

An intense battle began. The entire palace was filled with the sound of swords clashing, and the enemy was defeated almost instantly.

Zhu Biao stood in front of the window of the Prince's Mansion, watching all this calmly. "The enemy's counterattack is just this. Since they have revealed their weakness, they should pay the price."

Zhu Han stood beside him, his eyes flashing with a cold light, "Prince, the remnants of the enemy have been completely eliminated. Next, we just need to close the net and make sure they can't escape."

As the remnants of the East Factory and Zhao Mian's cronies were taken down one by one, the situation in the court finally became clear. Zhu Biao's decision was perfectly demonstrated in this action.

At this moment, the entire capital city seemed to be silent, and all the forces hidden in the darkness were finally exposed this night.

A cold light flashed in Zhu Biao's eyes, "Tonight, I will completely control the court and inject new vitality into the Ming Dynasty."

The walls of the palace were still towering, and the splendor of the carved beams and painted buildings had not dissipated with the approaching storm, but at this moment, the future of the entire Ming Dynasty seemed to be hanging on a thin thread.

Zhu Han stood in front of the pavilion of the Prince's Mansion, his figure stretched out by the cold moon and the dark night behind him.

He stared into the distance. The chess games he had set up were unfolding silently. All the schemes and calculations were almost gathered at this moment.

"There's no turning back for tonight's situation." Zhu Han whispered to himself, with a complex light flashing in his eyes.

"Zhu Han, you have made a decision that cannot be reversed." He closed his eyes gently, but he had already made up his mind. No matter what the future held, he was ready.

Suddenly, there was a soft knock on the door, breaking Zhu Han's thoughts.

"Come in."

The door was gently pushed open, and Gu Qingping, wearing a plain palace dress, walked quietly into the room.

"Uncle." She spoke softly, her tone gentle but unable to conceal her anxiety, "Your Highness, will you continue the operation tonight?"

Zhu Han stood up and stared at her deeply. "Biao'er has no way out. The enemy will not give him a chance to breathe."

"I know." A hint of sadness flashed across Gu Qingping's eyes. "But, Uncle, I understand your feelings, but there seems to be something more hidden behind all this. You have also seen that my father has never expressed his position. His attitude has never given a clear answer."

"I know what you're worried about." Zhu Han looked at Gu Qingping deeply, "But you should also understand that the prince's determination cannot be changed. You and I are both in the vortex of this struggle, and every step we take must be cautious."

Gu Qingping lowered her head and remained silent for a long time. She was aware of the complicated situation behind the scenes.

As night fell, the entire capital was shrouded in darkness. Inside the palace, Zhu Biao had already begun the final preparations with his trusted ministers and Jinyiwei.

Zhu Han personally arranged secret spies to ensure that they could find the enemy's weakest link before they took action.

"There has never been a simple victory or defeat in the power struggle in the Ming Dynasty." Zhu Han muttered to himself while looking at the starry sky on the roof at night.

Just as he was thinking deeply, a confidant suddenly appeared beside him, looking anxious: "Uncle, the remnants of the East Factory have begun to act. Their spies have sneaked into the palace and tried to smuggle weapons into the Prince's Mansion."

Zhu Han's eyes suddenly became sharp, "They really are unwilling to give up. Arrange the defense. Tonight, we will make sure they have nowhere to escape."

"Your Majesty, the enemy is preparing to evacuate." Another confidant sent a message, "They seem to have realized that they are no match for the enemy and are preparing to move outside the palace."

Zhu Han's mouth curled up slightly with a sneer, "This is their mistake. The prince has already taken the initiative. Tonight, the enemy will not be able to escape no matter what."

"Catch them all in one fell swoop." Zhu Han ordered in a low voice, "Don't leave any alive."

The Jinyiwei pounced on the enemy like a tiger, giving them almost no chance to breathe. The enemy's team was quickly divided, and a tense atmosphere enveloped the entire palace.

"Prince, the enemy is no longer able to fight back. We succeeded." Zhu Han's voice was low, but full of overwhelming power.

"Uncle," a familiar voice broke his contemplation. Zhu Han turned around and saw Gu Qingping standing at the door. She looked normal, but there was a hint of worry in her eyes.

"Qingping." Zhu Han nodded and walked up to her. "What do you want to talk to me about?"

Gu Qingping walked into the house quietly, her eyes swept across the moonlight outside the window, and she said with some uneasiness: "With tonight's victory, I know that the prince has made decisive progress, but I am more worried that the forces behind the enemy have not been completely eliminated."

Zhu Han smiled lightly, but his eyes were still deep. "Qingping, you are right to worry. Although we have won this battle, as you said, the forces behind the enemy are still lurking in the dark, and they will never give up so easily."

Gu Qingping frowned slightly, "Do you think such a victory can bring any substantial changes to the prince?"

Zhu Han's eyes were calm and deep, and he spoke slowly: "We have forced the enemy to reveal themselves, and their counterattack has begun, but at the same time, we have also obtained key intelligence. This power struggle is far more than that."

Gu Qingping looked at him and seemed to understand something. "You said, the real enemy is the concerns of the emperor?"

Zhu Han's eyes flickered, and after thinking for a moment, he nodded, "Yes, my brother has been observing the prince's actions, but he also understands that if he does not take action, the balance of the entire court will be completely broken. My actions, the prince's decisions, and even every partial victory in the court, are all inseparable from my brother's scrutiny."

Gu Qingping frowned, as if she realized the complexity of the matter. "You mean, the emperor has arranged more chess games behind the scenes, and now is the time for him to test the prince?"

Zhu Han did not respond immediately, but stared at the quiet palace outside the window. "My brother can always see everything clearly. His mind is deeper than anyone else. Whether it is his expectations for the crown prince or the layout of the court, he has never really let go. And we are always under his temptation." Gu Qingping slowly walked to Zhu Han's side and whispered, "Uncle, are you ready to face the test of father?"

Zhu Han was silent for a moment, and finally spoke: "I am ready. Whether it is your majesty or the enemies hiding behind us, we can no longer give them any chance to breathe."

Gu Qingping nodded, with a hint of determination in her eyes, "So, what are you going to do next?"

Zhu Han turned around gently, his eyes firm, "Next, we need to continue to promote the prince's decision-making, so that he can truly have the ability to independently control the court. And the basis of all this is to destroy those seemingly invisible forces that have actually been secretly controlling the fate of the Ming Dynasty."

Gu Qingping was silent for a moment, then asked in a low voice: "Uncle, do you think there is something else behind this struggle?"

Zhu Han's eyes gradually calmed down, and he nodded slowly, "Yes, Qingping. Every victory is accompanied by more conspiracies and power games. I believe that His Majesty's true intentions have never changed, and Biao Weier and I will eventually face his deepest test."

A few days later, Zhu Han's planning and preparation work had entered a critical stage.

"Your Majesty is always the biggest variable in this chess game." Zhu Han stood in the study, his eyes deep, and whispered to himself, "No matter how we plan, how to break the enemy's counterattack, the most important chess game is still in his hands."

"Uncle, my father's attitude is still not completely clear. He seems not to have taken any action, but he is always observing."

"Biao'er, your father's eyes have never left you."

Zhu Han said in a low voice, "He is not only observing your every move, but also considering whether you can truly control the court and stabilize the foundation of the Ming Dynasty. If you can successfully pass this test, you will be able to usher in the moment of true power."

Zhu Biao's eyes became calmer, and he nodded, "I understand. I am ready to face my father's test. Next, what I have to do is to completely eliminate the enemies hiding behind the court and destroy their forces, so that I can truly stabilize the Ming Dynasty."

Zhu Han's eyes flashed with approval, "Your determination shows me that you are no longer that young boy. You are now qualified to independently control the Ming Dynasty."

"Uncle, how should we make further arrangements next?" Zhu Biao asked in a low and powerful voice.

Zhu Han smiled slightly. "Next, we need to disrupt the hidden enemies and reveal their true colors. The most critical step is to find the force hiding in the dark that is truly controlling all this and completely destroy them."

Zhu Biao's eyes flashed with sharpness, "You mean, the forces behind my father?"

Zhu Han stared at him deeply and whispered, "That's right. My brother's decisions are always the most far-reaching. Everything we see is just superficial. What really determines the future of the Ming Dynasty are the hidden forces that control the foundation of the court."

Although the court seemed calm on the surface, there were undercurrents.

"Qingping," Zhu Han called softly.

There was a gentle knock on the door and Gu Qingping walked in.

There was a hint of worry in her eyes, as if she had already sensed the depth and complexity of this struggle. "Uncle, you have been here for a long time. Your Highness has something to say to you."

Zhu Han raised his head slightly, his eyes still as sharp as swords, deep and elusive, "Biaoer, do you have anything to say?" His voice was low, as if he was asking himself or whispering.

Gu Qingping nodded, "Your Highness wants to know how you will plan next. The situation in the court is becoming more and more complicated, and the emperor's attitude is not yet completely clear. The prince dare not act rashly."

Zhu Han stood up, took a deep breath, and walked slowly to the window. His eyes penetrated the window frame, as if he was staring at the coming storm in the distance.

"Qingping, the prince has come to this point. No matter what the emperor plans, we must be self-reliant. Although the emperor has not expressed his opinion, every decision the prince faces cannot be made without my help."

Gu Qingping frowned slightly, walked to Zhu Han's side, and said softly: "Uncle, you also know that the prince is becoming more and more dependent on you, but this is not entirely a good thing. Father may not be completely satisfied with this, and those ministers in the court who have ulterior motives will take the opportunity to secretly arrange things."

Zhu Han turned back slowly, a smile flashed in his eyes, "Qingping, you are no longer the girl who just entered the palace. Now you can see the situation more clearly than many people. Yes, I know what my brother is thinking. He will always test the ability and determination of the prince. But the prince is ready. Sooner or later, my brother's attitude will determine the final victory or defeat."

Gu Qingping lowered her head and was silent for a moment before speaking again, "So, uncle, how do you plan to continue to support the crown prince? In these turbulent days, do you have any more in-depth plans?"

Zhu Han's eyes were sharp, and he spoke slowly: "Next, we need to destroy those enemies lurking in the dark, especially those powerful officials who are attached to the emperor. The real victory or failure depends not only on how the prince can stabilize the court, but also on whether he can completely eliminate the hidden dangers that prevent the prince from ascending to the pinnacle of real power."

Gu Qingping raised her head, her eyes flickering, "Are you talking about the remnants of the princes' faction in the court?"

"That's right." Zhu Han said in a low voice, "My brother's intentions have long been clear. Although on the surface he seems to have not taken any action, he is still wary of those powerful officials in the court who were once close to him. Now is our best opportunity."

On the second day, Zhu Han went to the Prince's Mansion to meet Zhu Biao.

"Uncle, my father's attitude is still unclear. How can I stabilize the court under this situation?" Zhu Biao's voice was a little tired, but more determined.

Zhu Han walked to the desk and sat down slowly. He glanced at the government documents in front of Zhu Biao, and after thinking for a moment, he said, "Biao'er, since the emperor has not clearly supported you, we can only rely on ourselves. Almost all the ministers in the court are opportunistic, and they will keep changing according to the emperor's attitude. Therefore, we need to increase the layout of power, especially to eliminate those ministers with ill intentions."

Zhu Biao's expression was stern. "What I mean is, how can we stabilize the situation in the court when our father does not express his opinion? If we act rashly, I am afraid it will cause dissatisfaction in the court."

Zhu Han smiled slightly, his eyes sparkling with wisdom. "Biao'er, you have to understand that if you always rely on your brother's attitude, you will never be able to control the court. We can no longer wait for your brother's signal, we must take the initiative in this game of power. Only through public action can everyone see that the prince is no longer a puppet who depends on his brother, but a monarch with his own opinions."

Zhu Biao nodded deeply, "You mean, by breaking my father's chess game, we can completely break his control over the court?" (End of this chapter)