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

A few days later, Zhu Han and Zhu Biao's conversation finally began in the study of the Prince's Mansion.

Zhu Biao sat at the table, looking at the memorial in front of him. His pen moved across the paper, leaving behind neat and steady handwriting.

However, he was uneasy at this moment, and every stroke was filled with a bit of anxiety and powerlessness.

"Prince, I'm here today to have a talk with you." Zhu Han spoke softly, his voice neither hurried nor slow, revealing a calmness that could not be ignored.

Zhu Biao raised his head, with some doubt in his eyes, but then he nodded: "Uncle, what instructions do you have?"

Zhu Han sat down opposite him, his eyes deep: "You have been restless these days, and you are obviously facing unprecedented pressure. Whether it is the temptation of the emperor or the rise of Zhu Di, you feel confused and uneasy."

Zhu Biao's face changed slightly. After a moment of silence, he whispered, "My father has never fully trusted me, and Zhu Di is becoming increasingly powerful. I have doubts about whether I can really hold on to my position as the crown prince."

Zhu Han stared at him, his tone gentle but powerful: "If you are only swayed by external pressure, how can you support the Ming Dynasty? To be the crown prince, you must first know how much weight you can bear. Only by building up confidence in yourself from the bottom of your heart can you overcome the difficulties in front of you."

Zhu Biao frowned slightly: "But, my father's indifference and Zhu Di's threats make me doubtful. Does the emperor's uncle really think that I have the ability to deal with all this?"

Zhu Han did not rush to answer, but slowly stood up and walked to the window of the study.

The wind outside blew the bamboo branches, bringing bursts of light sounds.

"Biao'er, I have never been able to completely let go of my brother's attitude, but that doesn't mean you can't change everything through your own actions. You have to know that although father is cold, he has never completely rejected you. Even if he doubts your ability, in fact, he has been observing you and trying to help you grow through constant testing."

Zhu Biao remained silent. He looked out the window with a complicated look in his eyes: "Then how can I prove myself so that my father can truly see my value?"

Zhu Han smiled slightly, turned around and looked at him: "Biao'er, I will give you a chance to show your wisdom and courage in the court. This time, it is not the power granted by His Majesty, but you win the support of the subjects through your own decisions and actions."

Zhu Biao was stunned for a moment, then a hint of determination flashed in his eyes: "You mean, let me handle the affairs of the court personally?"

"That's right." Zhu Han nodded. "From today on, you have to take control of all affairs in your own hands and no longer rely on anyone else. You must let your father see that you are not only his son, but also an independent heir to the throne."

Zhu Biao's eyes became firm, and the confusion in his eyes gradually dissipated. He finally nodded deeply: "Okay, uncle. I understand. I will handle all the affairs of the court personally."

Zhu Han looked at him, a hint of satisfaction flashing in his eyes: "Very good. Remember, Prince, your path is made by you yourself, not by any external forces."

Zhu Biao stood up and bowed deeply to the emperor's uncle: "Thank you for your guidance, I will definitely follow your words and face the challenges of the future personally."

Zhu Han smiled slightly and patted him on the shoulder: "You are already determined enough. Now, as long as you take the first step, the opportunity for success is right in front of you."

Zhu Han stood in the courtyard of the Prince's Mansion. The early morning sunlight shone through the branches and leaves, shining on his silent face.

"Uncle." A gentle voice broke Zhu Han's thoughts. He turned around and saw Gu Qingping standing not far away. Her expression was still gentle, but there was a hint of worry in her eyes.

"Qingping, is there anything wrong?" Zhu Han asked softly. Although he had a smile on his face, his heart was still in turmoil.

Gu Qingping slowly approached, looking through him and looking at the Prince's Mansion in the distance, "I heard that my father will announce a new order today, which seems to involve the power of the prince."

Zhu Han's heart moved, and he turned to look at her, "Did Father really do this?"

Gu Qingping nodded, her expression solemn, "Father doesn't seem to trust the Crown Prince, especially in the court, the ministers are also a little hesitant. Although the Crown Prince has taken over some affairs, he still doesn't have full control of the situation."

Zhu Han frowned and said in a low voice: "Father's temptations have become more and more frequent. Although Zhu Biao is determined, he has no experience, and Zhu Di's power is gradually growing. I'm afraid all this is far from simple."

"Uncle, what should we do next?" Gu Qingping's voice was filled with anxiety. "The Crown Prince just began to take power not long ago. If father intervenes again, I'm afraid all our efforts will be wasted."

Zhu Han smiled slightly, with a complicated light in his eyes, "Qingping, whether the prince can stabilize this situation ultimately depends on his own determination and wisdom."

He paused, his tone becoming heavy, "However, if the Crown Prince cannot make it to the end in this power struggle, then what we need to do is not only to preserve the Crown Prince's position, but also to prepare for the future of the entire family."

Gu Qingping looked at him deeply, with a hint of worry in her eyes: "Uncle, you mean..."

Zhu Han turned his gaze towards the palace wall in the distance, his expression complicated. "If the prince is ultimately unable to consolidate his position, then we must prepare a way out for him. We cannot place all our hopes on a struggle that may fail."

Gu Qingping's heart sank slightly, but she didn't say much, just nodded silently.

That evening, Zhu Han received a secret letter from the palace, stating that Zhu Yuanzhang would personally convene a court meeting the next day and announce an important order.

This order will affect the sphere of power of Crown Prince Zhu Biao and may even weaken his influence in the court.

On the second day, the court meeting was held as scheduled. Zhu Biao put on the prince's court dress and walked into the hall with a calm expression.

Inside the hall, the court officials had already taken their positions, their eyes all focused on Zhu Biao.

Zhu Yuanzhang sat on the dragon throne, his eyes deep, as if he was thinking about something. The whole court was filled with a solemn atmosphere.

Zhu Biao stepped forward and bowed respectfully: "Father, I am here to see you, Your Majesty."

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded slightly, and said calmly: "Prince, I wonder how you are doing recently?"

Zhu Biao's heart tightened, and he was secretly alert, "Father, I am fine, and I am doing my best to handle the affairs of the court." Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes swept over Zhu Biao, with a trace of scrutiny in his eyes, "In this case, Father is relieved. After all, the prince is in charge of some power now, and he should do something."

Zhu Biao knew that the meaning of his father's words was by no means simple. He took a deep breath, his heart slightly shaken, but his face remained calm: "Father, I will live up to your trust."

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded, and didn't seem to say anything else. He just lowered his head, pondered for a moment, and then said: "Today's court meeting is to discuss the affairs of the court, especially the first step of the prince's plan after taking over the government."

The ministers in the court all looked at them sideways, it was obvious that these words were not simple.

"Prince, now that you have taken over some of the power, you should come up with a specific plan to truly stabilize the situation in the court."

Zhu Yuanzhang's voice sounded again, with a hint of indifference, "If you can stabilize the situation, you can continue to gain more power; if you can't do it, your father will not give you another chance."

"Your Majesty, I will do my best to ensure that the affairs of the court proceed smoothly." Zhu Biao replied in a deep voice with a determined look.

Zhu Yuanzhang looked at him deeply, and suddenly waved his hand: "In that case, then take out some of your plans and show them to me. After all, the succession of the crown prince is not just empty talk, and there must be some action."

The ministers in the court lowered their heads and talked among themselves, and the atmosphere instantly became more tense.

"Father, I believe that we must first strengthen the centralization of power and enhance the influence of the Crown Prince's Mansion."

Zhu Biao said in a steady voice, "The personal guards of the Crown Prince's Mansion need to be strengthened, and those officials in the court who have old ties with the Crown Prince should be utilized as much as possible and given more power to ensure their support."

After hearing this, Zhu Yuanzhang raised his eyebrows slightly: "These are just superficial measures to deal with the current situation. If there is no long-term plan, how can we deal with future challenges?"

Zhu Biao did not evade the question and continued, "The long-term plan is to strengthen the trust of the ministers in the court and establish prestige. If the prince can always show decisive decision-making ability in the court, even if the emperor does not fully trust him, he will gradually let go. And those who support the prince will gradually form a solid network."

"Heh," Zhu Yuanzhang chuckled, with a tentative look in his eyes, "He does have some courage. But whether the prince can do it remains to be seen."

"Father, I will not let you down. I will face the future of Ming Dynasty with greater determination and strength."

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded slightly, as if he heard the firmness in Zhu Biao's words.

Zhu Han stood outside the hall, listening to the voices coming from the court, and secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

On this day, Zhu Han was sitting quietly in the study room in the harem, recalling everything that had happened in the past few months.

"Your Highness, you are so lost in thought. Is there something wrong?" Xiao Jinghong walked into the study and saw Zhu Han sitting there quietly with deep eyes, so he asked softly.

Zhu Han raised his head and saw a hint of anxiety in Xiao Jinghong's eyes. He put down the memorial in his hand and whispered, "Your Majesty's order has a hidden meaning. The prince's current situation has not changed fundamentally. Zhu Di's forces have begun to gather quietly, and his threat to the prince still exists. Father's order means that he wants to give the prince more responsibilities and power."

Xiao Jinghong stood aside, staring at Zhu Han, "So, how does the prince plan to deal with it?"

Zhu Han's eyes flashed with a sharpness. "What we have to do is not only to help the prince stabilize his supporters in the court, but also to guide the development of the situation through the orders of the emperor. Only by allowing the prince to gain a firm foothold in the real power struggle can he completely step out of the shadow of his father and become an independent king."

He paused, then continued: "Although Zhu Di seems to be at a disadvantage, his supporters cannot be underestimated. I cannot let the prince slack off. I must be ready to meet challenges at any time."

Xiao Jinghong pondered for a moment and responded in a low voice: "I understand, Your Majesty. You want to completely weaken Zhu Di's influence through a powerful blow and ensure that the prince can control the overall situation in the court."

Zhu Han nodded slightly, "That's right. In this struggle, we must not only rely on the Crown Prince's courage, but also eliminate all forces that may become obstacles one by one. If Zhu Biao cannot quickly demonstrate his sufficient leadership, he will not be able to stabilize his position in the end, and may even fail miserably."

Xiao Jinghong nodded slightly, having made up his mind. "My Lord, if that's the case, how should we proceed?"

Zhu Han looked deep in his eyes and said slowly, "First, we must ensure that the prince's confidants can get enough support. Secondly, I will use some means to consolidate the prince's foundation in the court, not only in terms of his relationship with the ministers, but also through concrete actions to break Zhu Di's influence in the army. Only by letting the prince gradually take over everything can we ensure that he can fundamentally eliminate those hidden dangers."

Xiao Jinghong replied in a low voice: "Understood. If there is any need, we are ready at any time."

Zhu Han stood up, walked to the window, looked at the courtyard outside the palace wall, his eyes staring into the distance.

"This game of power is not something that can be controlled by the person sitting on the throne alone. What can truly determine the future of the Ming Dynasty are the undercurrents behind the power. As the prince's supporter, I cannot let the situation get out of control."

He turned to look at Xiao Jinghong, his eyes gleaming with determination: "We must achieve a surprise victory and ensure that Zhu Biao is not swayed by the situation."

The next morning, Gu Qingping had been waiting for a long time in Crown Prince Zhu Biao's study.

She looked at Zhu Biao who was sitting at the table in deep thought, and she couldn't help but feel a little worried: "Prince, now that the emperor has given the order, are you ready to respond?"

Zhu Biao raised his head slowly, his eyes complicated. "Father's order means that my power in the court will be clearer, but at the same time, I am also facing greater pressure. Especially Zhu Di, the power he holds is growing, and father's temptation may be far more far-reaching than we imagined."

Gu Qingping approached gently and said in a gentle tone: "Prince, you are no longer the prince you used to be. You have taken over most of the affairs. Your father's test of you is not only the distribution of power, but more of a test of your decisiveness and courage."

Zhu Biao's eyes flashed with worry. "I know, but over the years, I have never been able to truly control the situation. My father's indifference to me makes me feel powerless. Without sufficient support, how can I truly gain a foothold?"

Gu Qingping gently held his hand, "Prince, you don't have to worry too much. No matter what, I believe you have enough wisdom and ability to face it all. There are many people around us who support you, you have to believe in your determination."

Zhu Biao lowered his head and looked into her eyes. His heart moved slightly, and finally a long-lost firmness emerged from the depths of his heart. (End of this chapter)