The Ming Dynasty started with caution

In December, dozens of ceremonial guards entered the capital.

The princes rubbed their hands all the way. The new emperor asked them to draw their own fiefs. This was their own destiny.

Some princes even dared not use their own hands when going to the toilet, fearing that they would be contaminated by bad luck.

As Yan Chengjin said, many princes praised the new emperor, but it was the officials who scolded him.

The carriage entered the capital. After not seeing his son Zhu Houcong for a long time, Prince Xing Zhu Youlu's eyes gradually became hazy: "Go to the palace and ask when I can come to the capital to see the emperor?"

The accompanying officials of the palace received the order and rode towards the yamen of the Ministry of Rites.

Regardless of the military merits of the princes, the message can only be passed through the six ministries and then to the cabinet.

Half an hour later, the news reached the cabinet.

"How will Lord Yan draw the princes from all over the country when they come to the capital?" Wang Qiong looked at Yan Chengjin.

Although it sounds fair to let the princes draw lots to select their fiefs, the fiefs vary in size. In the eyes of the princes who are very particular about every penny, uneven distribution will also cause trouble.

I am afraid that the princes of the world only want to draw fiefs from island countries.

However, the really good fiefs are in the Ottoman area and the surrounding areas of the Tudor Dynasty, where the people are rich, the fertile land is thousands of miles long, and it will last for thousands of years.

However, I don’t know when Wang Shouren will send a letter of victory...

Yan Chengjin opened the newly drawn map and said, "Look, everyone, the numbers I marked are the territories of equal size."

Li Dongyang came up to take a look. The red thin line cut the territory into dozens of pieces of almost equal size.

"How do the princes pay taxes when they go overseas?"

"This is exactly what I want to discuss with you."

Yan Chengjin took out a paintbrush from his sleeve and painted a few dots. The black dots represent the guards and the blue dots represent the government offices.

…

East Warm Pavilion,

Zhu Houzhao asked Gu Dayong to prepare rice paper while selecting pigments. The talented people from Jiangnan evaluated their talents with music, chess, calligraphy and painting.

Therefore, he never tired of it.

If nothing unexpected happened, he would paint a picture of the princes entering the capital to pay homage.

"New emperor, the emperor asked you not to be lazy about politics." Xiao Jing reminded in a low voice.

Zhu Houzhao pondered the pigments without raising his head: "I am not lazy about politics."

Suddenly, a figure shrouded the imperial desk. Looking at the slightly middle-aged and fat body, it was known that it was...

"Son, meet the emperor."

"Why do you paint all day if you don't read the memorials?"

Zhu Houzhao looked annoyed, but couldn't help saying: "Son, I only paint for an hour, not all day, and it's winter. Thinking of the hungry people in the world, the silver earned by the son's painting will be supplied to the national treasury as relief silver."

Emperor Hongzhi stared at him, his eyes softened a little, this is a skill.

Why didn't I think of it back then?

"Hou Zhao, father, I heard that you want to enfeoff the vassal kings to the Tang, Song and island countries?"

What would it be like without vassal kings in the kingdom?

"I have summoned the vassal kings to Beijing."

"How do you plan to enfeoff them?"

"I don't know. Didn't I pay the cabinet a salary? The cabinet will help me find a solution."

The breathing of the retired emperor Hongzhi became heavy. As expected, he could not speak more than three sentences, otherwise he would be angry.

At this time, the eunuch came in and reported: "New emperor, Prince Xing sent someone to ask when the lottery will start? When can he see the prince of Prince Xing?"

"Send someone to the cabinet to ask when the enfeoffment ceremony will start, and send Zhu Houcong out of the palace."

...

Beijing, Nanxincheng.

Zhu Youju, the prince of Xing, bought a mansion.

He stood in front of the mansion, pacing back and forth, shaking the old housekeeper beside him so that his eyes were dazed.

"Is the prince not here yet?"

"Your Highness, please wait a little longer. People in the palace said... the prince has left the palace." said the housekeeper.

Zhu Youxuan frowned. Wasn't Houcong studying in the Zhanshi Mansion?

After waiting for a moment, a sedan chair stopped in front of the door, and a young eunuch walked in holding Zhu Houcong's hand.

"My son Houcong, meet your father."

Zhu Youxuan's eyes tightened, and he led Zhu Houcong to the side hall. After a sigh, "Houcong, do you know who will write the lot in a few days?"

"Prince Xing wants to cheat?"

Zhu Youxuan turned his head and glared at the fair-skinned young eunuch next to him.

I have only been away from the palace for thirty years. Are the young eunuchs in the palace so presumptuous? The young eunuchs back then would not dare to do this.

"Bold!"

"...Father, he is the current crown prince Zhu Zaikun, you are so bold."

Zhu Youju, the prince of Xing, was slightly stunned. Looking closely, he really looked a bit like Zhu Houzhao.

He immediately greeted him: "I am Zhu Youju, your Highness. I was anxious just now and said something inappropriate. I hope your Highness will not take it to heart."

"I wanted to help you." Zhu Zaikun blinked his big eyes a few times.

Zhu Youju's eyes lit up a little. Looking at Zhu Zaikun's big eyes, he didn't look like he would lie.

Yes, how could a child of this age lie?

I suddenly felt...

Just fold a small corner on the lot.

Today, the morning court was held in the East Warm Pavilion.

Zhu Houzhao ordered the eunuch to burn the floor dragon. The hall was warm, but the faces of the officials were heavy and dead, as if they had been robbed of their wealth.

"The princes are waiting outside the Meridian Gate."

"Lao Gao, start writing the lots."

Under the gaze of all the officials, the eunuch brought the desk and placed a stack of cut paper on it.

Yan Chengjin sat in the center of the hall, wrote the lots on the paper, and put it back in the wooden box.

Yan Chengjin was the Chief Censor, and he had always been at odds with officials and princes, so he would not cheat. The officials were relieved to let him write the lots.

Officials didn't care. Whoever caught the best didn't matter to them.

At this time, Zhu Zaikun walked to Yan Chengjin's ear and whispered something.

Yan Chengjin frowned slightly.

Hmm?

Zhu Houzhao looked up, and a voice like a father teaching his son sounded, saying lightly: "Weiwu, what did you say to Master Yan just now?"

Zhu Zaikun thought for a while and said honestly: "Bend a corner on the lot of the island country's fiefdom."

There was an uproar in the hall.

Liu Yu, the Minister of Justice, showed a solemn look, and his eyes fell on Zhu Zaikun: "May I ask who instigated Your Highness?"

...

Outside the Meridian Gate, the vassal kings had stayed in a fiefdom for a long time, and they all wanted to change their fiefdoms, but the court did not allow it.

At present, the court ordered them to enter the capital to draw lots, which was fair and just, and everyone was happy.

Xing Wang Zhu Youlu looked at the moon cave. Although he had been granted the land of Nanchang, it was not the best at the moment.

The court re-granted four territories: the island country is the richest, followed by Tang and Song, Ryukyu is the third, and Tatar and Wala are the last.

The princes rubbed their hands to prevent others from seeing the jade talismans in their hands.

Some even took a statue of Bodhisattva and began to burn incense and kneel down to worship.

"Call the princes to the palace!"

Zhu You looked up and saw the side door of the Meridian Gate opened, and the princes entered from the side doors on both sides.

The emperor's tent was set up in the courtyard, and the civil and military officials were on both sides.

A wooden box on the high platform!

The princes' pupils shrank suddenly when they saw it.

Next to the wooden box, there stood seven university scholars.

"Your Majesty, I greet the new emperor!"

The princes stood in the center of the courtyard and bowed to Zhu Houzhao. Zhu Houzhao then said happily: "Stand up, Prince Xing, you can catch first?"

Zhu Youxuan raised his eyes and was slightly happy. Could it be that the new emperor wanted to give Houcong a special treatment because he was the prince's companion? If he caught him first, he would most likely catch him!

"Thank you!"