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

"That's right." Zhu Han's eyes were firm. "Through this operation, we must not only break the enemy's counterattack, but also let all factions in the court understand that the prince is already controlling the fate of the entire Ming Dynasty."

"Uncle, the plan you arranged has begun to show results." A spy hurried into the Prince's Mansion with an urgent look on his face.

"We have successfully lured out the remnants of the East Factory. They are now connecting with the remnants of the prince's faction. Tonight, they will gather outside the palace and prepare for a counterattack."

Zhu Han's eyes flashed with a cold light, "They finally couldn't bear it anymore. Very good, tonight is our chance."

Zhu Biao listened calmly, his eyes sharp, "Father must be watching from the dark. Once we take action, he will react. So, tonight we must not only close the net, but also completely destroy their foundation."

"Is everyone ready?" Zhu Han asked in a low voice, his voice filled with murderous intent.

"Yes, uncle, everything is ready." The confidant responded quickly.

Zhu Han nodded. "Tonight, we will not tolerate any counterattack. The enemy has revealed a flaw. All we need to do next is to deliver a fatal blow."

The secret guards outside the Prince's Mansion were quickly deployed, and the atmosphere became increasingly tense.

Zhu Han sat in the study room in the Prince's Mansion. The lights were dim and the air around him seemed to be solidified. Time stopped at this moment.

His brows furrowed deeply, his thoughts swirling. He gently flipped a map on the table, and several carefully planned routes and strategies appeared before his eyes one after another.

"Royal brother...what are you waiting for?" Zhu Han whispered to himself, with a deep light flashing in his eyes.

"Qingping..." Zhu Han's voice rang out in the silent study. He turned around and looked at Gu Qingping standing at the door, with a complex emotion flashing in his eyes.

Her presence always brought him some kind of comfort, but at this moment, he also felt a hint of heaviness in his heart.

Gu Qingping walked into the room and closed the door gently. Her eyes were gentle but filled with deep worry. "Uncle, His Highness did not sleep well last night. He knows how tense the situation is today, but he still cannot make a decision. Can you give him some guidance?"

Zhu Han sighed deeply, "Qingping, I understand the prince's worries. The emperor's attitude is still unclear, and every decision made by the prince is greatly constrained. This power struggle is destined not to be so simple."

Gu Qingping walked up to him and gently stroked the map on the table. "But uncle, you have already laid out such a huge plan for the prince. Can't you let the prince deal with these challenges alone? He is the prince, the only one who will inherit the Ming Dynasty."

Zhu Han's eyes slowly moved away, his gaze deep, "Qingping, you see it too simply. The Ming Dynasty's rule is not determined by a piece of imperial edict. There are countless calculations behind the actions of every minister and every official. If the prince cannot be independent at this moment, it will be difficult for him to go further. However, my brother's test has not ended, and my mission is far from complete."

Gu Qingping was silent for a while, then nodded gently, "Uncle, do you think that Father's test has become too complicated, or even a little...dangerous?"

Zhu Han's eyes flashed with a hint of coldness. "My brother's tests have never stopped. He has been testing the prince's determination and wisdom. And those ministers in the court who have ulterior motives have long been waiting for an opportunity. If we can't destroy the foundation of these enemies as soon as possible, my brother's decision-making will still not be truly stable."

"Biao'er, although the emperor has not taken direct action, he has been observing whether you can independently control the court."

Zhu Han's voice was low but full of power. "The key to this power struggle lies in whether you can stand firm in the storm and catch those enemies lurking in the dark."

Zhu Biao stood beside him, his eyes firm but also a little tired, "Uncle, the situation you set up has begun to show, and the enemy is gradually showing flaws. However, if I don't act decisively at this time, I will be in trouble. Father's attitude is still unclear, and those princes' factions that may counterattack at any time, if left alone, I am afraid it will cause greater turmoil."

Zhu Han nodded, "You are right, Prince. My brother's decision may affect the entire court, but we cannot wait. Tonight, we must act decisively to completely break the enemy's counterattack."

"I understand." Zhu Biao nodded slightly, with a hint of determination in his eyes, "Uncle, if that's the case, I will take action immediately to completely eliminate those hidden forces."

"Prince, the enemy has begun to act." A Jinyiwei rushed over, looking anxious, "We have received news that the enemy is preparing to launch a counterattack tonight, and their target is directly targeting the Prince's Mansion."

"Yes, uncle." The Jinyiwei left quickly and made arrangements according to Zhu Han's instructions.

Zhu Biao stood aside, his eyes deep, "Since the enemy has already taken action, tonight is our last chance. No matter how the enemy counterattacks, we must not give them any chance to breathe."

Zhu Han looked at him and said in a low voice, "Prince, tonight you are no longer the son of the emperor's brother. You are the master of the court. Every game of power requires you to fight for it yourself. Action is the symbol of your power."

"Uncle, is His Highness ready?" Gu Qingping came softly from behind, her voice carrying a hint of nervousness.

Zhu Han nodded slightly, frowning. "I understand your concerns, Qingping. In fact, my brother has never really let the prince go. He is testing him, not only to test his ability, but also to secretly wait for an opportunity. If the prince can firmly control the situation tonight and completely eliminate the threat of the enemy, my brother's attitude may change."

Gu Qingping lowered her head, her eyes somewhat confused, "If the prince fails, what will happen next?"

Zhu Han stared at her quietly, his tone grim: "If he fails, the prince will not be able to stabilize the court, and the entire Ming Dynasty will fall into civil strife."

At the same time, at the other end of the palace, Zhu Yuanzhang sat on the dragon throne with a frown on his face.

"Prince...will he succeed?" Zhu Yuanzhang murmured to himself, his eyes looking through the pearl curtain, as if he could see the future of the capital.

"If the prince can stabilize the situation, I will be relieved." Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes flashed with a complicated expression, "Otherwise, the foundation of the Ming Dynasty will be completely shaken in this power struggle."

A cold light flashed in Zhu Han's eyes, and his gaze was fixed on the palace outside the window.

"Father's test is too severe." Zhu Biao said in a low voice, with a hint of sadness in his voice.

Zhu Han stood beside him, and after a moment of silence, he slowly spoke: "Every time my brother tests you, it is to push you from a weak person to a strong one. If you can pass the challenge tonight, you will be truly independent and no longer be my brother's shadow." "You also know that this power struggle has never been so complicated." Zhu Biao's tone became cold, "Father will not only see my determination, but also how I face these enemies hiding behind me and how I break through their shackles."

"The enemy has already started to take action." A trusted minister walked quickly into the study and reported in a low voice, "Their leader is leading the remaining troops to gather, and it seems that they are planning to break through from the back door of the Crown Prince's Mansion."

Zhu Han's eyes were as sharp as lightning, and his deep eyes were full of calmness and determination. "They underestimated us. Give them one last chance, let them think they can get away, but we must catch them all in one fell swoop from multiple directions."

Zhu Biao nodded, a determined light flashing in his eyes. "Uncle, I understand."

As the night deepened, the enemy's counterattack was finally completely defeated. The battle outside the Prince's Mansion became more and more intense, but in any case, Zhu Biao and Zhu Han's layout had taken the initiative.

The enemy had almost no way to retreat and was surrounded on all sides. In the Prince's Mansion, as all the enemy's ambushes were successfully defeated, the situation gradually stabilized, and the victory of the Prince's goal seemed to be within reach.

"Your Highness, the situation in the court is becoming increasingly tense. Today, several important officials have begun to oppose your administration of state affairs, and some have even begun to collude with the prince's faction in private."

There was a hint of worry in Gu Qingping's voice, "If this continues, the prince may not be able to secure his position."

Zhu Biao looked at the memorial spread out on the table, frowning, and said in a low voice: "I know, Qingping. Father's attitude is unclear, and those factions in the court took the opportunity to launch a counterattack. Right now, not only for myself, but more for the future of the entire Ming Dynasty, I must stand firm in this storm."

He stood up, his eyes as firm as steel. "Since the enemy dares to resist blatantly, then I don't have to be polite. I want to make them understand that any behavior that is not in my favor will be punished."

Zhu Han walked up to him, looking calm, "Prince, this is your critical moment. You can no longer hesitate, you must take decisive action to completely eliminate those threats. Although my brother is scheming, how can you gain his trust if you cannot give him enough power? You need to completely take over the court through this struggle."

"Biao'er, your plan has successfully weakened the enemy's strength."

"Uncle, Zhao Mian's secret letter mentioned 'food and grass in the northern border'." Zhu Biao suddenly slammed a secret letter on the table.

Zhu Han stroked the letter with his fingertips and suddenly chuckled: "Good Zhao Mian, he is waiting for us here. Qingping, bring us the map of the Northern Pacification Office."

Gu Qingping took the scroll in response, and Zhu Han tapped the border between Youzhou and Jizhou with his finger: "Last year, there was a severe drought in the northern border, and the Ministry of Revenue allocated 300,000 shi of disaster relief grain. But the military report said that the Shanhaiguan garrison had been receiving moldy rice for three consecutive months.

"He raised his head suddenly, his eyes piercing into the void like a knife, "I'm afraid the difference between the two has long been eaten away by empty salary!"

"Your Highness, there is an urgent military report!" When the messenger rushed in, Zhu Biao was smashing the teacup to pieces.

Porcelain pieces splashed on the gold thread at the hem of the dragon robe, reflecting the wax seal in the messenger's hand that had been sent 800 miles away: "The Tatar cavalry raided Yunzhou, and the defending general Sun Kang opened the city and surrendered!"

Zhu Han stood up suddenly, his black dragon robe sweeping off the memorial on the table: "Sun Kang is Zhao Mian's disciple. Once Yunzhou is lost, the entire Liaoxi Corridor will be open to the Oirat!"

"Send a message to the Five Military Commandery to dispatch Liaodong cavalry to support Ningyuan!"

Zhu Biao grabbed his sword and cut off the corner of the case. "Tell the Ministry of Revenue to send me the account book of the disaster relief grain case. I want to see how much of the people's money these parasites have swallowed up!"

Zhu Biao's fingers tightly grasped the handle of his sword, his eyes burning with anger and determination, his blade-like gaze piercing straight at the wax seal in his hand. As soon as the messenger left, the air in the room almost froze.

"Sun Kang... is indeed Zhao Mian's disciple." Zhu Biao cursed in a low voice, his voice deep, as if every word was filled with anger and unwillingness.

Zhu Han stood quietly by, his eyes as deep as a cold pond, "The collusion between Zhao Mian and Sun Kang has been exposed. This is not just a matter of corruption, but also a deep political conspiracy."

"Political conspiracy?" Zhu Biao turned his head suddenly, with a sneer in his eyes, "Do Zhao Mian and his people think that they can get away with it just by taking advantage of the disaster relief grain from the northern border? I want to see who dares to continue to act recklessly in this land!"

Gu Qingping stood aside, her eyes also becoming serious, "Your Highness, the issue of grain and grass in the northern border has far-reaching implications, and it involves more than just the corruption of Zhao Mian. There may be more conspiracies behind it. Every decision you make now is related to the safety of the entire Ming Dynasty."

Zhu Biao gripped the hilt tightly, a hint of gloom flashed in his eyes, "I no longer rely on my father's temptation, Qingping, today I decided to personally find out the details of these thieves and kill the chicken to scare the monkey."

Zhu Han nodded and said calmly: "This is the moment when you need to show your decisiveness the most. Not only do you have to deal with those forces in the court, but you also have to use this opportunity to completely disintegrate them."

Soon after, the atmosphere in the Prince's Mansion became increasingly serious. Zhu Biao sent people to urgently mobilize the Liaodong cavalry to prepare to support Yunzhou.

At the same time, the account books of the Ministry of Revenue were quickly delivered to him. The prince sat at the desk, frowning, his fingers gently sliding across the account books, his eyes gradually becoming more focused.

"These account books seem clear, but they are actually full of loopholes." Zhu Biao whispered, "Zhao Mian has falsely reported the amount of disaster relief grain more than once, and even embezzled the grain, in order to secretly support the Wala cavalry."

"If all this evidence is brought out, Zhao Mian will have no chance of turning the tables." Zhu Han said coldly, "If he doesn't explain clearly, we can strike him immediately."

Zhu Biao slammed the table and stood up, "I will not tolerate any corruption rampant on the land of the Ming Dynasty! Since Zhao Mian is so bold, he must pay the price!"

He stood up, his eyes sharp as a knife, as if he had made up his mind, and said calmly: "Summon Zhao Mian immediately. Not only must he be held accountable for the problem with the relief grain, but also his collusion with the enemy must be thoroughly investigated. If he does not give a reasonable explanation, then immediately conduct a thorough investigation!"

"Yes, Your Highness." Gu Qingping's tone was firm. She had long been accustomed to the prince's decisiveness in handling affairs. "If the emperor has any reaction, how are you going to deal with it?"

Zhu Biao's eyes did not flinch, "If the emperor disagrees with my decision, I will break with him without hesitation. I no longer rely on the emperor's tolerance. From now on, I will make all decisions independently." (End of this chapter)