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

Chapter 885: Secret Letter from the Border, Full of Traps

At this time, another staff member, Zhao Canjun, walked into the study with a worried look on his face: "Your Highness, Zhu Di's spreading of rumors should not be underestimated. Once rumors spread, people's hearts will be unsettled, which will be extremely disadvantageous to us."

Zhu Han nodded, and after a moment's silence, he said, "Rumors stop with the wise, but the wise also need to take action. General Zhao, you should quickly contact the upright people and ask them to write articles to clarify the facts and guide public opinion. At the same time, we should also spread our eyes and ears among the people, collect the voices of the people who have been misled by rumors, and use the truth to awaken them."

A trace of admiration flashed in Zhao Canjun's eyes: "Your Highness, that's a good idea. I'll do it right away."

Just as everyone was discussing, hurried footsteps were heard outside the door, and a spy hurried in, kneeling on one knee and reporting: "Your Highness, a secret letter has been received from the border, His Highness Zhu Biao asks Your Highness to make the decision."

Zhu Han took the secret letter, quickly read it through, and his face became serious: "Zhu Di is indeed not a simple person. He has laid many traps on the border. Biaoer requested reinforcements. This matter cannot be delayed."

Upon hearing this, the military commander Liu Dudu stepped forward and said, "Your Highness, I am willing to lead the troops to the border to lend a helping hand!"

Zhu Han raised his hand to signal him to calm down. "General Liu is loyal and brave, but we must be cautious when it comes to reinforcements. Zhu Di has set an ambush, and if we rush in, we may fall into his trap. You should immediately select elite scouts, sneak behind the enemy, and find out Zhu Di's troop deployment, and then we can make plans."

Commander Liu took the order and left, and fell into deep thought again in the study. Zhu Han looked around at everyone and said firmly: "Everyone, this contest is not only a contest of strength, but also a contest of wisdom and will. We must remain unchanged in the face of ever-changing situations, and we must be steady and cautious, but also dare to win by surprise."

At this time, there was another announcement from outside the door, and a servant came in with an urgent letter in his hand: "Your Highness, this is a secret letter from the palace, please take a look."

Zhu Han took the secret letter, opened it, and his expression suddenly became complicated. After a moment of silence, he said to everyone, "This is my father's handwritten order, ordering me to go to the palace immediately to meet him. It seems that there is something important to discuss."

Zhao Canjun said worriedly: "Your Majesty, if you enter the palace now, you may be deceived."

Zhu Han smiled slightly, his eyes revealing a calmness: "It doesn't matter, you can't get the tiger cub without risking it. I want to see what tricks Zhu Di can come up with."

The moment Zhu Han stepped into the palace, he felt the tension and uneasiness in the air. The palace walls were tall, and the glazed tiles were shining coldly in the sunset, as if every brick and stone carried countless unknown secrets.

"Your Highness Prince Han, please follow me." An elderly eunuch led Zhu Han through the winding corridors. Every step he took was cautious, as if the slightest carelessness would disturb the tranquility and danger in the palace.

Zhu Han followed silently, secretly planning the upcoming meeting.

Walking into the imperial study, Zhu Yuanzhang was sitting at the desk, holding a scroll of memorials in his hands, his brows furrowed. Seeing Zhu Han coming in, he slowly put down the memorials and looked at his brother deeply.

"Handi, you are here." Zhu Yuanzhang's voice was low and powerful, revealing an unquestionable majesty.

Zhu Han bowed and saluted, his attitude respectful but measured: "Your Majesty, I pay my respects to you. May Your Majesty live long and long."

"Get up." Zhu Yuanzhang waved his hand, motioning Zhu Han to come forward, "I summoned you to the palace because I have something to discuss with you."

Zhu Han stood up and looked at Zhu Yuanzhang calmly, waiting for his next words.

"Recently, rumors have spread throughout the court that you have colluded with border generals with ill intentions." Zhu Yuanzhang's tone carried a subtle hint of probing, "Do you have anything to say about this?"

Zhu Han was shocked, but he remained calm: "Your Majesty, I have been loyal to the Ming Dynasty and Your Majesty all my life. This is nonsense and is a frame-up by a villain. I am willing to guarantee with my own head that this is not the case."

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded, seeming quite satisfied with Zhu Han's answer, but it seemed that his doubts were not completely eliminated: "Of course I believe you, but rumors are more ferocious than tigers, so we must guard against them. You must be careful in dealing with them, and don't let Zhu Di take advantage of you."

Zhu Han sneered in his heart, but his face became more respectful: "Your Majesty's teachings will be followed carefully, and I will not let the villains take advantage of me."

The two talked for a while, and Zhu Han took the opportunity to report the situation on the border and Zhu Di's conspiracy to Zhu Yuanzhang. After hearing this, Zhu Yuanzhang's face became more solemn, and he was silent for a long time before saying: "Brother Han, the burden on your shoulders is not light. The prince is young, and the situation in the court is complicated. You need to spend more time to assist the prince and stabilize the court."

Zhu Han returned to the Prince of Han's Mansion. It was already dark, but the lights in the study were still on. He sat at the desk, playing with an exquisite jade ring in his hand, his eyes revealing deep thought. The conversation with Zhu Yuanzhang tonight made him see more clearly the undercurrents in the court and Zhu Di's ambitions that should not be underestimated.

"Your Highness, General Zhao requests to see you." The servant's report came from outside the door, interrupting Zhu Han's thoughts.

"Let him in." Zhu Han ordered lightly.

Assistant General Zhao hurried into the study, looking a little anxious: "Your Highness, I just received news that Zhu Di is secretly contacting those ministers in the court who are dissatisfied with Your Highness, and seems to be preparing to make trouble at the court tomorrow morning."

Zhu Han heard this and sneered, "He is quick. But since he dares to make a move, I will have some fun with him."

He turned to look at General Zhao, his eyes gleaming with determination: "You immediately contact the upright people and those court officials who are loyal to the crown prince, and ask them to be present at the court tomorrow morning and speak for us."

General Zhao took the order and left. Zhu Han then summoned his trusted aide Mr. Li and the military commander Liu.

"Mr. Li, you are responsible for collecting evidence of Zhu Di's collusion with corrupt officials in the court, and present it to the court tomorrow morning so that His Majesty and the court officials can see his true face." Zhu Han instructed Mr. Li.

Mr. Li bowed and accepted the order, his eyes gleaming with determination: "I will definitely live up to your trust, Your Majesty."

Zhu Han then looked at Commander Liu and said, "Commander Liu, you lead the personal guards and wait outside the palace gate. If anything unexpected happens during the morning court session, immediately lead the troops into the palace to protect His Majesty and ensure His Majesty's safety."

When Commander Liu heard this, a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes, but he immediately bowed and accepted the order: "I will obey your order and protect your majesty until my death."

After Zhu Han arranged everything, the atmosphere in the study room eased a little, but everyone's heart was tense. Mr. Li pondered for a moment and spoke again: "Your Highness, if Zhu Di really makes trouble tomorrow morning, in addition to exposing his crimes, we also need to have a backup plan just in case."

Zhu Han nodded in agreement and turned his gaze to Commander Liu: "Commander Liu, in addition to the personal guards, are you sure you can mobilize some of the elite troops returning from the border to support the city?" Commander Liu hesitated for a moment and replied: "The border troops have traveled a long distance and have a limited number of people. If they are mobilized on a large scale, it may cause unnecessary panic. But I can secretly recall several loyal generals. They each lead a small team of elite troops, which is enough to deal with emergencies."

Zhu Han nodded with satisfaction: "Okay, let's follow this plan. We must ensure that the operation is secret and no news can leak out."

At this time, there was another announcement from outside the door, and a guard hurried into the study with a secret letter in his hand: "Your Majesty, urgent mail from the border, expedited delivery."

Zhu Han took the secret letter and quickly opened it. His brows furrowed for a moment before relaxing. "It seems that the situation on the border is more complicated than we thought. Zhu Biao mentioned in the letter that the enemy army seems to have internal assistance. We must find out the truth as soon as possible."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Canjun suggested, "Your Majesty, this matter may be handed over to Mr. Li to investigate. He has unique abilities in intelligence gathering."

Mr. Li smiled modestly: "Thank you for your trust, General Zhao. This matter concerns the stability of the border. I will do my best."

Zhu Han nodded and decided, "Mr. Li, you must not only investigate the internal conspiracy, but also try to maintain close contact with the generals on the border to ensure that information flows smoothly. General Zhao, you continue to contact the clean people and strengthen the monitoring of the intelligence network in the court to prevent Zhu Di from using tricks again."

Zhao Canjun and Mr. Li agreed in unison and were about to leave when they heard another voice from outside the door. This time it was a trusted servant: "Your Majesty, there is a scholar outside who claims to be the leader of the Qingliu School and wants to see you. He said he has something important to discuss."

Zhu Han's eyes lit up, and he quickly said, "Please come in!"

Soon, an old man with white hair and beard, dressed in a scholar's robe, walked into the study and bowed deeply to Zhu Han: "Greetings, Your Highness Prince Han. I was entrusted by my colleagues to come and discuss matters concerning tomorrow's morning court."

Zhu Han quickly stood up to greet him: "It is a great honor for us to have you here in person, Mr. Scholar. Please take a seat, and let's discuss the plan together."

After the old man sat down, Zhu Han directly explained the situation: "Zhu Di may make a move in the morning court tomorrow. We need to work together to deal with it. I hope that the scholar can speak up for justice in the court."

The old man stroked his beard and smiled, "Don't worry, Prince Han. We are honest people and we should put the country first. However, Zhu Di is powerful, and we need solid evidence to convince your majesty and the court officials."

At the right moment, Zhao handed over the list of evidence he had prepared long ago: "Please read this, Mr. Scholar. This is the evidence we have collected that Zhu Di colluded with corrupt officials in the court. We will present it to the emperor tomorrow morning."

The old man took the list and looked through it carefully, with a flash of appreciation in his eyes: "Good! With these evidences in hand, Zhu Di's conspiracy will be exposed."

The old man gently put down the list of evidence, his eyes flashing with determination and expectation: "Your Highness Prince Han, this is ironclad evidence. We will definitely be able to reveal Zhu Di's true face in the court tomorrow. But, does Your Highness have any further plans?"

Zhu Han smiled slightly, his eyes revealing profound wisdom: "Mr. Scholar is right. Exposing the truth is only the first step. Zhu Di has been operating for many years, and his followers are all over the government and the country. If we want to completely eliminate his influence, we need to proceed step by step."

He turned to General Zhao and continued, "General Zhao, in addition to the response in the court tomorrow, you also need to secretly contact those court officials who are dissatisfied with Zhu Di's behavior and win their support. At the same time, use the influence of the upright people to raise momentum among the people and let the people of the world know Zhu Di's true face."

Military Officer Zhao nodded and agreed: "I understand. I will make arrangements immediately."

At this time, the military commander Liu Dudu interrupted and said, "Your Highness, I think that in addition to the court and the people, the army also needs to be prepared. If Zhu Di knew that his conspiracy was exposed, there is no guarantee that he would not jump off the wall in desperation. I am willing to lead the personal guards and be on standby at any time to prevent any accidents."

Zhu Han nodded in approval: "General Liu is right. I'll leave the military affairs to you. Remember, you must remain vigilant, but don't act rashly, so as not to fall into Zhu Di's trap."

Just as everyone was discussing, another report came from outside the door. A guard hurried in with a nervous look on his face: "Your Highness, urgent report from the border, the enemy seems to be making unusual movements, and seems to be secretly gathering troops, with unknown intentions."

Zhu Han frowned, took the urgent report and quickly read it, then instructed Mr. Li: "Mr. Li, this matter is of great importance. You should immediately send someone to the border to meet with His Highness Zhu Biao to find out the enemy's intentions and strengthen border defense."

Mr. Li was about to leave after receiving the order, but he seemed to remember something and turned to Zhu Han and said, "Your Majesty, I have made some progress in the investigation of corrupt officials in the court, but there are many people involved, and one move could affect the whole body. I beg Your Majesty to allow me to go to the capital in person to interview several key figures in order to obtain more evidence."

Zhu Han pondered for a moment and nodded in agreement: "Okay, Mr. Li, please be careful on this trip and make sure you are safe."

After Mr. Li left, the atmosphere in the study became a little solemn. Zhu Han looked around at everyone and said firmly: "Everyone, Zhu Di's conspiracy has been exposed, but our battle has just begun. We must unite all the forces that can be united, and use wisdom and courage to defend the future of the Ming Dynasty."

The old man stood up and bowed, saying, "Your Highness Prince Han has a far-sighted vision, and I admire you. The upright people will definitely support your Highness with all their strength and join us in this righteous cause."

The night was dark, and the candlelight in the study flickered, illuminating everyone's resolute faces. Zhu Han took a deep breath, his eyes more determined: "Tomorrow morning court will be the critical moment for us to face Zhu Di head-on. We must ensure that every link is foolproof."

He turned to Zhao Canjun and instructed: "Zhao Canjun, you must not only contact the upright people and loyal officials, but also pay close attention to Zhu Di's movements. If he makes any unusual moves, report to me immediately. At the same time, prepare several backup evidences just in case."

Zhao Canjun nodded, his eyes flashing with determination: "I understand, I will do my best."

Zhu Han then looked at Commander Liu and said, "Commander Liu, you must not only ensure that the guards outside the palace are on standby at all times, but also keep in touch with the elite troops returning from the border. Once something happens in the palace, they must be able to respond quickly."

Commander Liu bowed and responded, "I will obey your orders and will not fail your trust."

The old man, the leader of the Qingliu, also spoke up at this time: "Your Highness Prince Han, the Qingliu people will fully support you in the court. But in addition to denouncing Zhu Di, we also need to propose specific reform measures to rectify the government and reassure the people."

Zhu Han nodded in agreement: "Mr. Scholar, what you said is very true. At the court meeting tomorrow, I will put forward a series of proposals to rectify the government, eliminate corruption, and strengthen border defense. I hope that you can work together to put these proposals into practice."

The old man stroked his beard and smiled, his eyes sparkling with approval: "It is a blessing for the Ming Dynasty to have such a wise and capable person as His Royal Highness Prince Han presiding over the overall situation."

"At the court tomorrow morning, we must not only expose Zhu Di's true face, but also take this opportunity to promote the rectification and reform of the court." Zhu Han's voice was steady and powerful, echoing in the study.

Military Officer Zhao followed closely behind, his eyes gleaming with determination: "Your Highness is right, but the road to reform will be full of thorns. We need to proceed step by step and ensure that each step is steady and powerful."