"Master, please take care of yourself on this trip north. I am just a little confused as to why you are leaving so early tomorrow morning instead of waiting a few days."

In the study, Zhu Ying looked at Yao Guangxiao who was sitting opposite her and asked.

Just when he was reviewing the memorials, Yao Guangxiao suddenly came to see him and proposed to set off for Goryeo early tomorrow morning.

According to the original plan, Yao Guangxiao was to go with the Goryeo envoys in a few days, but now Yao Guangxiao suddenly proposed to go first.

Yao Guangxiao clasped his hands together and said, "Your Highness, I am old and my journey is slow. It would be the same if I leave a few days earlier and then meet up with the envoy."

"I'm afraid it will take a long time for me to go to Goryeo this time, so I have called all my fellow apprentices to accompany me so that we can make some arrangements."

Zhu Ying paused slightly when he heard this.

My goodness, I just wanted you to leave the capital to prevent any trouble from happening again, but you gathered a group of people and wanted to go to Goryeo to cause trouble?

With just a few words, Zhu Ying sensed the fiery emotions in Yao Guangxiao's heart.

It is not difficult to guess that it was probably the list of undercover people in Goryeo that I gave him that made him so motivated.

The voices became sonorous and powerful.

After a moment of hesitation, Zhu Ying said, "Goryeo is also being harassed by Japanese pirates. When you go there, you can pay more attention to it. It would be best to find out the current situation in Japan."

"It will also help Master understand that if everything goes well, in the early spring of next year, the Ming Dynasty may organize a large army to rescue the Japanese people who are living in dire straits. After all, Japan has belonged to our Shenzhou since ancient times."

"There is war in Japan right now, so there is no reason to stand aside and watch. Goryeo is relatively close to Japan, so you can make decisions on some matters yourself."

Zhu Ying will not take any major action against Goryeo for the time being, so Lee Seong-gye can only let him do his job well for the time being.

As for Lee Seong-gye, Zhu Ying will not let him step down in the next few years.

In fact, if Zhu Ying wanted, he could just send an order and the entire Goryeo would change hands and be annexed by the Ming Dynasty overnight, but this was not the result Zhu Ying wanted.

It is true that Goryeo is currently like a plaything in Zhu Ying's hand, but Zhu Ying, who knows people's hearts well, knows that if you kill Lee Seong-gye directly, Goryeo will be more easily out of control.

The whole situation will become difficult to control.

The root cause is that among the latent forces that Zhu Ying has arranged in Goryeo, there is no one who can truly stand on his own.

If Lee Seong-gye were gone, Zhu Ying would have to personally take charge of Goryeo to intimidate his many subordinates.

But this is obviously impossible. Zhu Ying had never thought about establishing Goryeo before, and it is even more impossible now.

People's hearts are the most difficult to control. To be honest, there are currently three major forces under Goryeo.

They were lurking in the Goryeo royal palace, civil officials, and military generals.

This is what balance is all about.

Now everyone’s goal is still very consistent, which is to lurk in Goryeo, show interests for the Qunying Chamber of Commerce, and achieve the ultimate goal of controlling Goryeo.

But in fact, Zhu Ying understood better that if the lurking time was too long, more unexpected events would occur.

This is destined to be an impossible goal.

Zhu Ying’s initial idea was to continuously absorb resources from Goryeo to replenish himself.

Once the change of dynasty is completed, it is inevitable that a few heroes will emerge under such circumstances and secretly control their power in Goryeo.

That would be a complete waste of time and effort.

Maintaining the current situation in Goryeo is most beneficial to Zhu Ying. According to Zhu Ying's prediction, Goryeo's latent forces can still be controlled at least in the next three years.

If it's too long, then I don't know.

Three years is enough time for Zhu Ying to be completely incorporated into the Ming Dynasty.

In Zhu Ying's opinion, if he wants to quickly and easily control Goryeo and attack Japan after the beginning of next spring, Goryeo must participate.

Lee Seong-gye certainly did not want to fight Japan, but he probably had no choice.

If Goryeo cooperates with the Ming Dynasty in launching a large-scale military attack on Japan, it will definitely cause a burden on the people in Goryeo and even trigger internal social conflicts.

These were all within Zhu Ying's guess. Although a bit cruel, it was necessary to consume Goryeo's manpower.

Only in this way, when the Ming Dynasty annexed Goryeo and appeared as a savior, could it occupy Goryeo most easily.

The purpose of sending Yao Guangxiao over this time was also to better implement the plan.

Upon hearing this, Yao Guangxiao immediately understood Zhu Ying's thoughts. When dealing with smart people, sometimes they would understand everything after just a few words.

"Please rest assured, Your Highness Changsun, I will definitely not let Your Highness down when I go to Goryeo."

Yao Guangxiao said with a solemn vow.

He was very clear and understood very well that this trip to Goryeo was a test from His Royal Highness Changsun.

Judging from the positions occupied on many lists, Goryeo is now completely in the pocket of His Royal Highness Changsun.

If I still cannot achieve His Royal Highness Changsun's goals and ideas this time, I will not have the face to participate in some major operations in the future.

At this time, Yao Guangxiao suddenly felt very fortunate for his choice.

From the layout and planning, he could easily guess that His Royal Highness Changsun's ambition was definitely not just to defend the territory of the Ming Dynasty as His Majesty thought now.

That is the lofty ambition of a tiger swallowing up the world and conquering the wolf.

Yao Guangxiao's ambition was not to govern the local area, but to leave a mark in history.

When it comes to achieving this goal, what could be faster than expanding territory?

His biggest regret was that he was not born a few decades earlier so that he could show his talents and ambitions during the war at the end of the Yuan Dynasty.

But now it seems that the competition between countries also makes Yao Guangxiao feel very good.

This stage is enough for him to display his talents.

"Okay, then everything about Goryeo will be in my hands, Master." Zhu Ying said with a smile.

When Yao Guangxiao heard this, a hint of excitement appeared on his calm face.

Until this moment, Yao Guangxiao felt like he was dreaming.

You have to know that it has only been a few days since he joined His Royal Highness Changsun, and he has entrusted such an important matter to himself. The trust shown in this made Yao Guangxiao feel a little ashamed.

Before, he had always intended to take advantage of Zhu Ying, and now seeing that Zhu Ying was so powerful, he wanted to confine himself.

I am old now, and if I really have to be locked up for ten or eight years, then everything will be in vain.

According to the current situation, it is possible that it will take ten to eight years. By that time, I will be almost buried in the ground, and all my ambitions will be empty talk.

Behavior like that of Yao Guangxiao is actually very despised in the current Ming Dynasty.

To put it in an exaggerated way, it is no different from betraying one's master and clinging to the powerful.

Even Yao Guangxiao was prepared to be despised by Zhu Ying in the next few years.

What he didn't expect was that His Royal Highness Changsun actually handed Goryeo over to him to manage.

The power that Zhu Ying granted to Yao Guangxiao allowed him to almost completely represent himself within the internal hierarchy of the Qun Ying Chamber of Commerce.

In other words, from the moment Yao Guangxiao crossed the Yalu River and set foot on Goryeo territory, he became the most powerful person among Zhu Ying's forces under Goryeo.

In a sense, Yao Guangxiao walking in Goryeo was almost no different from the King of Goryeo.

This is what made Yao Guangxiao burst into tears and was truly moved.

There is nothing better than a gentleman dying for his friend.

As for Zhu Ying, he didn't think too much about it, because he was too familiar with Yao Guangxiao's thoughts.

On the other hand, it is impossible for Yao Guangxiao, who was so old, to control Goryeo and establish himself as king.

Even if Yao Guangxiao caused trouble in Goryeo, it would not matter much.

Moreover, Zhu Ying was very familiar with Yao Guangxiao's thoughts. You should know that in the original history, Yao Guangxiao did not want money or power after becoming the black-robed prime minister.

Such people have a firm faith in the Tao and are not affected by any external factors except for achieving their own goals.

If he really was greedy for power, then Yao Guangxiao would not be Yao Guangxiao.

"By the way, Your Highness, Duke Cao Li Jinglong came to your house today and wanted to visit Your Highness." Yao Guangxiao suddenly remembered this and spoke.

As for Li Jinglong, Yao Guangxiao, who had previously served as Zhu Di's military advisor, was of course very familiar with him.

"Oh, what does he want to see me about?" Zhu Ying asked with interest.

Li Jinglong, he is the most famous first war god of the Ming Dynasty in later generations and can be called a legendary figure.

However, after experiencing the situation with the old man, Zhu Ying felt that this person was not that simple.

The old man is very smart. If Li Jinglong didn't have some real talent, how could he get the old man's praise?

Yao Guangxiao was a complete sellout. After hearing Zhu Ying's inquiry, he betrayed Li Jinglong without hesitation.

He began to report to Zhu Ying about how many war horses Li Jinglong had obtained for Prince of Yan Zhu Di through the tea-horse trade when he was in Xifan.

He even helped Zhu Di by smuggling tea and secretly raising money.

"It seems that the relationship between Fourth Uncle and cousin is quite good. They can help each other with such things." Zhu Ying said with a smile.

After hearing what Yao Guangxiao said, he finally understood how close the relationship between Li Jinglong and Zhu Di was.

This is also because the Jinyiwei does not investigate the royal family, or they know in their hearts that even if the old man knows about it, he will not punish the two too much.

“Your Highness, you may not know that Prince Yan and Duke Cao grew up together and have a very close relationship. They have been helping each other since Prince Yan became a fiefdom,” Yao Guangxiao added.

Zhu Ying nodded and said with a smile: "I will meet my cousin tomorrow to see what you are thinking of coming to see me at this time."

…

The Ming Imperial Palace, the rear hall of Chunhe Palace.

"You all should go back and do your homework. Yun Wen, stay here. I want to tell you something."

After Lu wiped it with a handkerchief, he gave instructions.

These words were spoken to Zhu Yunhuan, Zhu Mingyue, including Zhu Yunhuan and others.

Zhu Yunhuan and Zhu Mingyue also live in Chunhe Hall and live with Zhu Yunwen.

However, Zhu Yunwen is now semi-independent and generally seldom eats with his many brothers and sisters.

However, since the last chat with Lu, Zhu Yunwen became more and more dependent on his mother and took the initiative to go to the back hall to have meals with his mother.

When Zhu Yunhuan and others heard Lu's instructions, they agreed and left immediately.

But they didn't notice that the look in Zhu Yunwen's eyes when he looked at Zhu Yunxun and Zhu Mingyue had become somewhat unusual.

After dismissing everyone, Mrs. Lu frowned and said to Zhu Yunwen, "What did your mother teach you? Yunhuan and Mingyue are both your brothers and sisters. Even if you have some thoughts in your heart, how can you show them on your face?"

While they were having dinner just now, Mrs. Lu noticed that Zhu Yunwen looked at the two children with impatience.

In fact, before this, everyone's relationship was pretty good.

No matter what, Zhu Yunwen's personality is worthy of the title of elder brother under normal circumstances, and he is also very caring towards Zhu Yunhuan and Zhu Mingyue.

However, after knowing that the real big brother, Zhu Xiongying, was still alive, some changes began to occur.

"But mother, I really can't help it." Zhu Yunwen said somewhat aggrievedly.

"Hmph, what do you mean by can't help it? Yun Wen, what's wrong with you recently? Are you possessed? You have been learning from your father since you were a child. Where has your Confucian manners gone?"

"No matter what happens in the future, Yunxun and Mingyue are your biological brother and sister. You must treat them well as you did before, but understand."

There was a slight tone of reprimand in Lu's voice.

This made Zhu Yunwen feel a little aggrieved, and he argued: "But mother, if I am not mistaken, they must have gone to see my eldest brother when they left the palace before."

"I heard Yun Xuan whisper to me that the two of them have badges granted by the Emperor, which allow them to enter and leave the palace freely. This must be the Emperor asking them to go see my eldest brother."

When Mrs. Lu heard this, there was a look of disappointment in her eyes. She wanted to scold him again, but seeing the unwillingness in Zhu Yunwen's eyes, she felt soft-hearted.

After a little thought, she taught him: "I told you last time that when your elder brother enters the palace, His Majesty will definitely give the position of Crown Prince to your elder brother."

"For now, don't think too much about the position of the Crown Prince. Your only chance is to quietly wait for the opportunity. At this time, what you need is to be patient."

"You can't target Yunxun and Mingyue. They are very sensitive. Such behavior will only put you at odds with your elder brother."

"When your elder brother comes to the palace, let alone saying bad things about you in front of His Majesty, even if he comes to educate you personally as your elder brother, as a woman, I can't help you. You must know this in your heart."

At present, Lu is very clear that Zhu Xiongying’s entry into the palace has become an unstoppable trend.

His son's chances were currently very slim, but if he wanted to really hide, the first thing he had to do was not to become hostile to Zhu Xiongying.

The hostile relationship would arouse the resentment of His Majesty and would also prompt Zhu Xiongying to take action against Yunwen, and then everything would become more difficult.

"But mother, I feel like I can't do it." Zhu Yunwen said aggrievedly.

When Mrs. Lu heard this, she said angrily, "If you can't even do this, what else are you dreaming about? Even if you really get that position, I don't think you can handle it well."

"Even if it's tomorrow morning court, you should go to His Majesty and speak frankly and tell him about the September canonization. Don't think too much about the canonization, it's definitely impossible."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Yunwen did not give a direct answer, and there was an obvious struggle in his eyes.

He also thought that even if his elder brother entered the palace, the Emperor would not simply remove him from the position of Crown Prince.

There should be some way, there is still some hope.

Seeing this, Lady Lu said directly: "You can bring it up yourself, and it will be good for His Majesty and your elder brother."

"If you wait until His Majesty brings it up, have you ever thought about how you will face it? In the eyes of the court officials, you will be completely humiliated."