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

Just one hour later, Zhao Mian was brought to the Prince's Mansion. At this time, his face was pale, and he clearly felt the heavy atmosphere of Zhu Biao's calm and oppressive power.

Zhu Biao was still sitting behind the desk, looking at Zhao Mian with eyes as sharp as a knife.

"Zhao Mian, the future of so many people in the court depends on you, but you dared to tamper with the case of disaster relief grain in the northern border, embezzling grain and sending military supplies to the Wala. Tell me, can your crime be forgiven?"

Zhao Mian's body trembled slightly, and then he lowered his head and remained silent. After a moment, he slowly spoke: "Prince, I did fail in my duty, but I did not collude with the enemy. If you want to hold me accountable, I am willing to accept the punishment, but I only ask that no innocent people be implicated."

"Innocent?" Zhu Biao sneered, "Zhao Mian, how dare you say you are innocent? You didn't embezzle others, but the blood and sweat of the people of the Ming Dynasty! Not only did you devour the people's food and grass, you also sent relief supplies to the enemy. What do you think of the lives of the people?!"

Zhao Mian's forehead was covered with sweat. After a moment of silence, he suddenly looked up with a hint of anger in his eyes.

"Your Highness, I did something wrong, but I did it all for the stability of the Ming Dynasty. The Liaodong area is weak in military strength, and the food reserves in the northern border area have long been stretched to the limit. I just hope to gain a glimmer of hope."

Zhu Biao stood up, his eyes as cold as ice, "You did such a treacherous thing for your own selfish interests. Today I want to let you know what true responsibility is."

"If you don't explain clearly how I have operated all these years, your end today will not be as simple as being beheaded."

His tone became colder and colder. "I'll give you one chance. Hand over the names of those who colluded with you immediately. If you don't do so quickly, you will be charged with treason."

Zhao Mian's body trembled slightly, as if he was considering whether to continue hiding it.

The air fell into a dead silence. After a moment, Zhao Mian lowered his head and spoke in a voice so low that it was almost inaudible. "Prince, I admit that there are indeed some people involved behind the scenes. If it weren't for them, I would not have done such a sinister thing."

"Who?" Zhu Biao's eyes were like knives. "Hand over their names one by one. If you dare to conceal them, today will be the day you die!"

Zhao Mian took a deep breath and finally spoke: "It's... it's Cao Jing and the prince faction behind him. They have been secretly putting pressure on me."

Zhu Biao and Zhu Han looked at each other, with a complex emotion flashing in their eyes. The name Cao Jing was undoubtedly a huge and dangerous hidden danger in the Ming Dynasty court.

"Catch him!" Zhu Biao said sternly, "Cao Jing dared to collude with foreign enemies in the court and betray the Ming Dynasty. He will not survive today."

When the news reached Cao Jing, he had already realized that the prince had taken control of the court and that he could no longer avoid the upcoming trial.

The sky in the palace was gradually brightening, and a bigger storm was quietly approaching.

Zhu Biao stood in front of the window, with a hint of determination and calmness in his eyes.

"We can no longer tolerate the forces behind Cao Jing." Zhu Biao whispered to himself, "Father may not easily tolerate my actions, but we will never tolerate these people."

He turned around, his eyes as sharp as a hawk, "This game has just begun."

"Uncle." Zhu Biao turned around and looked at Zhu Han standing beside him, with a hint of contemplation in his eyes. "Although the enemy's counterattack has been temporarily suppressed, the factions behind it have not been eradicated. Although my father's mind is deep, I no longer rely on him. Next, I will completely eliminate these hidden dangers."

Zhu Han listened quietly, his face expressionless, his eyes revealing a hint of depth, "Prince, you are determined, but you cannot ignore the doubts in your father's heart. Although your actions are decisive, you still lack sufficient trust from the court."

Zhu Biao clenched his fists, a barely perceptible anger flashed in his eyes, "I know that my father's test is not over, but I am no longer the prince who depended on him. I have to face everything by myself and take control of this country."

Zhu Han's eyes flashed with a complicated expression, "You did a good job, Prince. Since last night, you have proved your determination to the court. But the power game in the court is far more complicated than you think. You can't just rely on strength to win, you have to win the trust of everyone."

Zhu Biao's eyes were stern. "I understand, uncle. Next, I will completely eliminate all threats. Only in this way will father see that I have the ability to be independent."

"And your real enemies are not just those factions colluding behind the scenes." Zhu Han's voice was a little heavy.

"Prince, you have to face not only your enemies, but also those in the court who are always lingering on the edge, ready to attack you at any time. You must make them understand that you are the prince who controls your own destiny."

A few days later, the situation in the court was still tense. Officials associated with Zhao Mian and the prince's faction, although acting low-key on the surface, were secretly looking for opportunities to try to weaken the prince's authority again.

"Your Highness, there are several ministers in the court who are still supporting Zhao Mian behind the scenes. They have been secretly communicating recently and seem to have new moves."

Gu Qingping walked into the prince's mansion, with a barely perceptible nervousness in her tone, "Prince, how do you plan to deal with this?"

Zhu Biao was sorting out the government affairs in the court at his desk. When he heard Gu Qingping's report, his eyes froze slightly, and a gloomy light flashed in his eyes. "They actually dared to counterattack at this time. In this case, let them know that the prince's decision cannot be challenged."

"Prince, if you decide to take action, I'm afraid it will cause a stir in the court, especially with the emperor." Gu Qingping's voice was a little worried, "You must be careful."

Zhu Biao's face was as hard as steel. "Father's thoughts have been written into every one of his decisions. If I can't completely eliminate the threat at this critical moment, Father will never trust me with the court. In this case, I have to do it myself to let Father see that I am no longer a pawn in his hands."

Zhu Han listened and nodded gently, "Biao'er, the test from the emperor is like an invisible mountain, pressing on your heart. However, since you have decided to step out of the emperor's shadow, you must dare to take on your own responsibilities and challenges."

"Send a message to the Five Military Commandery, all elite troops must assemble immediately to prevent any infiltration by external forces." Zhu Biao stood in the middle of the study, his voice calm and powerful,

At the same time, the Ministry of Revenue and the Censorate worked together to immediately investigate all the ministers in the court who had colluded with Zhao Mian. "

Gu Qingping stood aside, watching the prince's every move closely, and said firmly, "Prince, if you move forward so quickly, I'm afraid it will arouse the emperor's suspicion."

"Father will understand." Zhu Biao said calmly, "What I have to do now is not only to deal with the enemy in front of me, but also to make everyone understand that the authority of the prince cannot be violated from now on."

At the same time, at the other end of the palace, Zhu Yuanzhang was still sitting on the dragon throne, his brows furrowed and his eyes deep, as if he saw through the changes in the entire situation.

"The prince... he has finally come to this point." Zhu Yuanzhang whispered to himself, with a complex emotion in his eyes, "If he can stabilize the situation, he will be able to usher in the moment of truly controlling power." "My brother's attitude has not changed." Zhu Han whispered to himself, his eyes as sharp as a knife, "Although the prince has shown excellent decision-making ability, my brother's temptation continues."

"Brother, since you are so far-sighted, how can I help the prince to completely step out of your shadow and become truly independent?"

Zhu Han's voice was low and powerful, as if he was asking himself, or as if he was asking the distant palace.

Suddenly, there was a slight sound of footsteps outside the door. Gu Qingping pushed the door open and walked in. She looked at Zhu Han quietly with eyes as clear as water, as if she could see through his inner thoughts.

"Uncle, the prince won again in the court today, but he is still worried."

Gu Qingping's voice was gentle, but full of invisible pressure. "Although the emperor has begun to secretly recognize the prince's ability, the shadow of hesitation in his heart still cannot be completely eliminated."

Zhu Han looked at her quietly, with a hint of deep meaning in his eyes, "Yes, Qingping. Although the prince appears calm on the outside, deep down in his heart, he still longs for the true trust of his brother. This process may not be as simple as he imagined."

Gu Qingping sighed softly, "Father's thoughts are too deep. Although he has gradually begun to let go, he still can't be completely relieved. Although the prince is doing well now, he still hasn't completely escaped father's temptation. If the prince doesn't break this shackle in time, perhaps nothing can be settled."

Zhu Han's eyes flashed with coldness, "So, the prince is still in the eye of the storm. The test of the emperor brother has never stopped."

He paused, then slowly walked to the desk, stroking his fingers over several reviewed memorials. "This game is not only a contest between the Crown Prince and foreign enemies, but also a silent confrontation with his brother."

Gu Qingping frowned slightly and took a step closer, "What does the emperor's uncle mean?"

Zhu Han smiled slightly, his eyes as deep as the sea, "Qingping, it's not that the emperor doesn't value the prince, but he wants to see if the prince can be independent. What can really make the prince stabilize the Ming Dynasty is not only the control of power, but also the true recognition and trust of the emperor."

He paused, "So, the challenges faced by the Crown Prince come not only from enemies in the court, but even from the Emperor himself."

One day, Zhu Han was inspecting the Prince's Mansion. His eyes swept over the piles of memorials, his expression as calm as ever.

"My royal brother is always so cautious. His every move is closely related to the future of the Ming Dynasty." Zhu Han whispered to himself. Suddenly, it seemed that some new plan emerged in his mind.

"Qingping." He looked up at Gu Qingping who was standing beside him. His tone was as calm as ever, but behind that calmness, there was a kind of determination. "We need to provide the prince with more opportunities, not only in the court, but also in the test of our father."

Gu Qingping was slightly stunned, "What the emperor's uncle means is..."

Not long after, Zhu Han went to the palace alone and headed straight for the Hall of Supreme Harmony.

Zhu Yuanzhang was still sitting on the dragon throne with a stern expression, staring sharply at the kneeling Zhu Han.

The air was filled with tension, and the game between father and son seemed to have no room for maneuver.

"Royal brother, is there anything you need from the palace?" Zhu Yuanzhang asked in a deep voice, with an intimidating tone that could not be ignored.

Zhu Han bowed deeply and whispered, "Brother, I have something to report. Regarding the future of Crown Prince Zhu Biao, I believe that the Crown Prince has the ability to govern the Ming Dynasty independently. Brother, you should let go as soon as possible and trust the Crown Prince completely."

Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes narrowed, "You said that the prince already has the ability to govern the Ming Dynasty? Are you sincere about what you said, or are you protecting the prince?"

Zhu Han remained unmoved. "Brother, the Crown Prince is the heir you personally trained. You know his abilities very well. He not only has the courage to make decisions, but also has a broad mind and bearing. He can lead the Ming Dynasty to a better future. Brother, there is no need to have any doubts. The Crown Prince is already wise enough to deal with all challenges in the court."

Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes flickered slightly, as if he was thinking about Zhu Han's words. After a moment, he slowly spoke, "Do you think the prince is ready to take on the responsibility of the Ming Dynasty? He hasn't even gone through the trials yet, how can he be so eager to give up power?"

Zhu Han lowered his head and said calmly, "Brother, the prince has gradually overcome the difficulties after this test. He is no longer my brother's shadow, but a master with his own independent thoughts. Although all your attempts are reasonable, the prince is already mature enough and should have his own decision-making space."

Zhu Yuanzhang was silent for a moment, then looked at Zhu Han deeply, "You are right. Is the prince mature enough to shoulder the future of Ming Dynasty? And today, hearing you say so, it seems that I can rest assured a little."

Zhu Han stood up, a calm light flashed in his eyes, "The prince is no longer my brother's test subject. He no longer needs all the tests. My brother should trust him and give him a real chance."

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded gently, with a complex emotion flashing in his eyes. "Okay, if that's the case, let the prince prove everything himself. Since you trust him so much, I won't say anything more."

Zhu Han smiled slightly and whispered, "Thank you for your trust, my brother."

Zhu Han left the Hall of Supreme Harmony and looked back at the numerous palace gates, his eyes becoming increasingly profound.

He had already understood in his heart that even if his brother Zhu Yuanzhang verbally agreed to give up power, true trust would ultimately have to be won by Zhu Biao himself.

He walked out of the palace gate step by step, his steps neither fast nor slow, as steady as a mountain.

In the Prince's Mansion, Zhu Biao stood in front of the desk, flipping through the memorials. Gu Qingping stood beside him, watching him quietly, with some worry in her eyes.

"Your Highness, is there any news from the palace today?" she asked softly.

Zhu Biao stopped writing, took a deep breath, and said in a steady tone with a hint of coldness: "My uncle has lowered my last layer of defense, and my father has finally let go."

Gu Qingping breathed a sigh of relief, then frowned again: "Is this... considered true decentralization?"

Zhu Biao looked solemnly and shook his head: "Not really. What the emperor's uncle fought for me was just an opportunity, an opportunity to truly prove myself." (End of this chapter)