Zhu Xiong Ying nodded and said with certainty, "Father, rest assured, I know what I'm doing."

Zhu Xiong Ying attached great importance to Mu Ying's upcoming return to Beijing. Ultimately, it was because Mu Ying's identity was too special and required special attention.

Zhu Xiong Ying knew Mu Ying's importance to the Ming Dynasty. Although Zhu Xiong Ying was fundamentally opposed to the enfeoffment system, there were some important matters that mattered to him.

Without Mu Ying stationed in Yunnan, the border regions would be much more unstable. Furthermore, the Ming Dynasty certainly needs some capable generals to garrison the border towns, especially since the Ming will undoubtedly be fighting on multiple fronts, making some areas even more in need of stability.

Once Japan and Korea are stabilized, Liaodong and the north also need to be considered. However, Yunnan, Jiaozhi, as well as the Western Regions and Tibet, also need to be fully controlled.

By then, the central court will naturally need to be more powerful, but it will also need some arrogant and fierce generals to hold the fort, and some loyal and reliable people to help the Ming Dynasty stabilize its rule.

The Mu family, at this stage, does indeed seem to be the most suitable entity to guard Yunnan. Moreover, in Zhu Xiong Ying's plans, places like Myanmar and Vietnam will need to be considered sooner or later. Even if they are not directly ruled, they need to be kept under control.

After the family banquet ended, Zhu Da kept Zhu Xiong Ying behind, saying, "What you said to your grandfather today was just your overthinking. Although your grandfather is decisive and ruthless, I understand. Don't forget that I've been handling most of the court affairs these past few years."

This isn't Da Zhu bragging; he really did a lot of things, and he handled many major cases. It's just that Lao Zhu was the one taking the blame, while Da Zhu gained a reputation for being kind and benevolent.

Zhu Xiong Ying seemed speechless and said irritably, "Your subject understands. I was just worrying unnecessarily and overthinking things."

"Your imperial grandfather is now working to improve the administration, which is only right," Da Zhu laughed, then said, "However, things might be a little better in the next two years, but we're about to launch another military campaign. Now we should find some pretexts to send some people to Japan, understand?"

Therefore, politics is indeed dirty in many ways. When Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhu Yuanzhang dealt with some nobles or civil officials, it was not necessarily because they were corrupt or lawless, but because they needed these people to make certain contributions in their special positions.

So finding a crime to frame them for is quite reasonable, because the Ming Dynasty needs those nobles and civil officials to make 'sacrifices,' even if those people are resistant at heart.

But there's nothing we can do; that's politics!