The Imperial Grandson of the Great Ming

In the seventh year of Hongwu, the legitimate eldest grandson of Zhu Yuanzhang, the great ancestor of the Ming Dynasty, was born.

He who resides as the legitimate heir will surely ascend to t...

Chapter 744 National Policy, Foundation

For Chang Mao, handling things over the years has actually been quite simple. He hardly needs to consider anything else; he simply carries out the tasks assigned by Zhu Yunying, and that's enough. He doesn't need to think about anything else or have any further ideas.

Needless to say, the Chang family's stance was predetermined. Zhu Yunying's background speaks volumes; the Chang family was born to stand with Zhu Yunying, and this was the foundation of their family tradition.

This is not just empty talk. Even though some people see Chang Mao as a spoiled brat or a dissolute son, he is aware of these things.

Seeing Chang Mao approach, Zhu Yunying sighed, "Uncle, you should take better care of your health these days."

Chang Mao seemed indifferent and said, "Your Majesty need not worry. I feel quite healthy, just a bit of a cold. I'll be fine after a rest. I can still serve the court."

Zhu Yunying didn't know what to say. Although he was the emperor, there were some things he couldn't control. Not to mention the level of medical technology in this era, even hundreds of years later, some diseases would still be uncontrollable.

Chang Mao is actually quite good; his physical condition is decent, and he usually lives a life of luxury without any financial difficulties. If even he can't control certain things, then there's no need to even mention the others.

These are all facts, and there is indeed not much fairness in these matters.

Zhu Yunying didn't mince words about these matters, but continued, "These days, people's hearts must be restless. Many people have probably heard some rumors and are probably thinking about their own future."

Chang Mao didn't hide anything and said, "These days, some military families have indeed been selling off some of their properties. Everyone is watching the imperial family. Now the imperial family is also selling off some of their properties. Many people know that the relocation of the capital is not going to stop."

Since things have become unstoppable, many people are now thinking about doing their duty and protecting their own interests as much as possible. After all, relocation is no small matter, and it involves many different interests.

Zhu Yunying smiled and didn't hide anything, "For others, it's normal to sell some assets. But the Chang family shouldn't get involved at this time. Yingtian Prefecture will inevitably be the secondary capital, and the Chang family should stay here in the future."

Chang Mao naturally understood these principles; in fact, the emperor had discussed this matter with him before. The lineage of the Prince of Kaiping could only remain here; their status was suitable, and Yingtian Prefecture, as a secondary capital, did indeed need a distinguished nobleman to stay behind.

“Yunying also needs to go there. We need to go to Beiping first to silence the gossip.” Zhu Yunying sighed and said helplessly, “Years ago, when the matter of moving the capital was decided, my maternal grandmother led the family to Beiping. Many of the Chang family’s businesses are located there. Originally, we thought that after we ascended the throne, the Chang family would stay in Beiping. But now we think that won’t work.”

Chang Mao didn't know how to respond, and he understood some things. Because the nobles who remained in Yingtian Prefecture were either from the lineage of the Prince of Zhongshan or the lineage of the Prince of Kaiping; there was simply no third option, and everyone was naturally aware of this.

Now that Zhu Yunying is the emperor, the Chang family, as an ally of the court, seems to have lost some of their importance.

However, the situation is different for the Crown Prince. He still needs the Zhongshan Prince's lineage as a support in the court, and these are all facts.

Given this, it naturally means that Chang Mao must remain in Yingtian Prefecture. Although it is only a secondary capital, it still holds a certain status, especially since the Xiaoling Mausoleum is located there, which further emphasizes the seriousness of this matter.

“The Chang family’s assets don’t need to be sold off. We’ll just take advantage of the reasonable prices these days and consolidate a little. We won’t say anything,” Zhu Yunying said with a smile to Chang Mao. “I think Uncle is aware of these things. When it comes to managing the household and keeping the business, Yunying and I are both muddle-headed brothers and haven’t done a very good job.”

Zhu Yunying's family was incredibly wealthy, so he wasn't as meticulous about many things. Of course, this was also because he was adept at making money, so the Ministry of Revenue didn't need to worry about that. As for the Imperial Treasury, it goes without saying; the Maritime Trade Office was quite good at 'collecting money,' and all of it flowed into the Imperial Treasury, which was different from the national treasury.

Although Zhu Yunying, who was wealthy and powerful, was exceptionally good at spending money, he didn't squander it on large-scale construction projects or building palaces and pavilions, nor was he preoccupied with his own enjoyment. Therefore, there was naturally nothing to worry about.

Needless to say, Zhu Yunwen is indeed not very good at managing a household, but Princess Sang is quite adept at accumulating wealth. In addition, he has received a lot of extravagant gifts over the years, and various rewards have never stopped. Zhu Yunwen is actually living a carefree life now.

The two Zhu brothers actually didn't need to worry so much; their wealth and status would undoubtedly continue uninterrupted. Their special status also meant that many things were simply not worth worrying about.

Chang Mao naturally knew what to do. The Chang family wouldn't sell off their assets, as they would continue to reside in Yingtian Prefecture. Acquiring some properties at a relatively low price at this time was certainly a good thing.

"You should also pay attention to matters concerning land," Zhu Yunying said earnestly. "Land annexation is a major issue. Although it may seem like we are being overly pessimistic, it is hard to guarantee that it won't happen in the future. The Chang family doesn't own a lot of land now, nor does it own a small amount. We should stop acquiring land around Yingtian Prefecture."

This chapter is not finished yet. Please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content!