Although at present, the three feudal kings only have fiefdoms of three cities in Japan to establish their feudal states.

But the treatment given by His Majesty is really too generous.

What Zhu Ying said to the three princes was not something that needed to be kept secret. Instead, it needed to be widely publicized.

The Zhu family has so many descendants, why can't more of them go outside the territory of the Ming Dynasty to establish a country?

With such a strong backing from the Ming Dynasty, there is nothing to worry about.

For a moment, other feudal lords who had not previously gone to invade Japan became very envious.

Although the vassal state is small, it possesses power equivalent to that of the emperor. Who wouldn't want to try it? Besides, outside the Ming Dynasty, everything belongs to him.

It doesn’t matter if the place is small, there are no restrictions from above, which means there are endless possibilities.

If one day I really can't make it, I can return to the Ming Dynasty and still be a wealthy prince.

Zhu Ying held an encouraging policy towards these things, although he knew in his heart that many people's cultivation was not very high. Even someone like Zhu Gui, who looked like a modest gentleman in the capital, was actually intimidating because of Zhu Yuanzhang's intimidation.

In fact, he has a rather brutal temper. This was reported by the Chamber of Commerce.

But Zhu Ying didn't care about these.

Many times, some people are ultimately a scourge. There is a very clear distinction between being a scourge to the people of the Ming Dynasty and being a scourge to other places.

Where there is bad, there will naturally be good.

If the conflicts within the royal family were transferred away, like enfeoffment of princes, it would be like throwing away the meat in the pot.

After the war in Japan ended, a large number of Ming troops were arranged to return to Ming Dynasty.

At present, the only place where there is relatively much war is on the Liaodong grassland.

However, after the Ming army from Japan returned, they could no longer continue fighting and had to return to their various garrisons to rest for a period of time.

After all, we are all human beings. Especially in this era, homesickness is inevitable. For a while, the mood of war-weariness is spreading. We have been fighting for more than half a year, and it is necessary to relax appropriately.

Otherwise, the combat effectiveness will be reduced.

And the new army is about to start training.

All the garrisons were mobilized again. Now the Ming Dynasty was very confident because after the summer grain harvest, the consumption from the war against Japan had almost been recovered.

This means that we can continue fighting on the grassland.

The troops preparing for the grassland war have basically completed their training and can now proceed to the border to make preparations.

Fighting on the grassland is different from fighting in Japan, so the difficulty is naturally much higher.

The biggest key lies in mobility.

The soldiers on the grassland are almost all cavalry, while on the Ming side, most of them are infantry.

Cannons and the like are not very meaningful and will only serve to hinder the entire army.

The only useful thing is the musketeers, and they have to be the newly-produced matchlock rifles, so that they can have the possibility of chasing the grassland cavalry.

…

Zhu Di was somewhat depressed in his mansion.

Even though Li Jinglong came over to drink with him, he didn't think much about it.

In the past few days, Zhu Di was very enthusiastic about Japan, so he went to various ministers to ask for advice on how to govern the cities of Japan.

When he went there, he also took his eldest son Zhu Gaochi with him.

However, every time he went to listen, Zhu Di felt more and more uncomfortable.

Because he knew it so clearly, he knew very clearly that in the days to come, Japan would basically develop commerce, industry, agriculture, water conservancy, and a series of other things.

Not to mention the distant future, according to this plan, it is unlikely that a war will break out in the next three to five years at least.

Zhu Di is now in good health and at the peak of his powers. He feels very uncomfortable when he thinks that he will have to stay in the prince's palace to handle government affairs for the next four or five years.

On the contrary, Zhu Gaochi was very interested in this. Not only was he very serious when asking questions, he also took various notes.

And after coming back, I will go to the Qun Ying Chamber of Commerce to inquire about the relevant matters.

For example, some of the things that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince promised to do now need to be coordinated in advance.

The details include the workers' accommodation issues, wage issues, cement road construction issues, and investment promotion issues.

Zhu Gaochi has been very busy these days.

Zhu Di felt very troubled because his eldest son always asked him all kinds of things. After all, he needed to know the current situation and emotions of the Japanese people, their views on the Ming army, the size of cities, the establishment of commerce, and the formulation of taxes.

Looking at the thick stack of documents of his eldest son Zhu Gaochi, Zhu Di felt a little dizzy.

That day, Li Jinglong came to Zhu Di to drink again.

It’s not for any other reason, it’s just that Li Jinglong is very bored in the capital.

Ever since His Royal Highness the Crown Prince began to get involved in state affairs, His Majesty has made fewer and fewer arrangements for him.

Like before, he would go to Xifan to preside over trade and horse markets.

They will also be sent to various places for training.

But now, apart from my official position, there is basically nothing else to do.

As for the horse market, Zhu Ying had already discovered it when he secretly sent horses to Zhu Di. Naturally, there was no reason to let him go to the horse market again. It was enough that he was not punished.

As for business matters, there is the Qun Ying Chamber of Commerce, and Zhu Ying has so many disciples who are loyal and have the means to do so, so naturally there is no need for that.

As for training troops, that goes without saying.

Apart from the Ming Military Academy, most basic military training is now conducted by the Xuanjiawei soldiers who are in charge of guiding grassroots training.

Even if they are just nominal ones, most of them are responsible for the specific tasks followed by dozens or hundreds of Xuanjia.

The power of the nobles is gradually being eroded. Even if they have some ideas, it is like cutting meat with a blunt knife, and no one can find fault with it. They will not fall out with His Royal Highness the Crown Prince because of such things.

So Li Jinglong became an idler in the capital. Not only Li Jinglong, but also many military generals and nobles were in such a situation.

"Uncle, although life in the capital is wonderful, it always makes people feel unsatisfied. If you return to Yan State, I will follow you."

After Li Jinglong complained for a while, he said to Zhu Di.

The plan to go to Japan had already been agreed upon before the invasion of Japan, and Li Jinglong had also selected a number of civil officials for Zhu Di to go there together.

However, Zhu Di took a sip of wine and said, "It is unlikely that a war will break out in Japan now. This is the intention of the Crown Prince and the Emperor."

"We must first develop the vassal state, and then we can take it step by step."

"But you know my situation, Jinglong. Now everything is basically handed over to Gao Chi. Even if I go there, I will just be a hands-off manager. At most, I will just train the troops."

After hearing this, Li Jinglong said casually: "With your talent, it is a waste for him to stay in Japan. It would be better for him to go to Liaodong. My uncle is very familiar with Liaodong. He has fought there for many years. There is a lack of talents like my uncle there now."

Li Jinglong was just speaking casually. After all, the Prince of Yan already had a vassal state, so naturally he had to stay there.

But when Zhu Di heard it, he didn't think so.

Compared to going to Japan, going to the Liaodong grassland to conquer is much more pleasant.

Like a word that awakens a dreamer, Zhu Di immediately began to wonder whether it was possible for him to go to Liaodong.

Seeing that Zhu Di did not speak, Li Jinglong immediately realized what Zhu Di was thinking and asked, "Cousin, you are not thinking of going to Liaodong, are you? I was just talking casually just now. Let alone His Majesty, even His Royal Highness the Crown Prince..."

Speaking of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, Li Jinglong was suddenly stuck.

He originally thought that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince would not agree, but as he thought about it, he felt that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince might not agree.

It seems to be a bit taboo, but His Royal Highness the Crown Prince gives people the feeling that he really doesn't care that much about the relationship with the vassal kings.

Li Jinglong had heard that, at the very beginning, His Majesty did not agree to give the vassal kings such great power. Even for overseas vassal states, there should be restrictions, not to mention providing food and people when needed.

Not only does it help develop business, but it also provides so many preferential policies.

It was His Royal Highness the Crown Prince who insisted.

In this way, it is indeed possible that Zhu Di could also go to Liaodong.

During the silence, Zhu Di said, "If I go to ask the Crown Prince, do you think this can be accomplished?"

Li Jinglong pondered for a moment and said, "Perhaps His Royal Highness the Crown Prince will really agree to let my cousin go."

When Zhu Di heard this, he immediately made a decision in his heart.

The next day, Zhu Di asked to go to the Crown Prince's Kunning Palace.

Zhu Ying seemed a little surprised by Zhu Di's arrival, so he smiled and said, "I wonder what the Fourth Emperor's uncle wants to do when he comes to see me, my nephew."

At this time, Zhu Di simply said: "Your Highness, I heard that we will go to develop Liaodong in the spring of next year."

"The situation in Liaodong grassland is quite chaotic now, so I want to go there. As for domestic affairs, I really don't want to go there."

"Please help me, Grandson."

Zhu Ying couldn't help laughing. He never thought that Zhu Di would come to him for help during this period.

But then again, it would be a waste for a prince like Zhu Di, who has great military talent, to stay in Japan.

He immediately expressed his opinion: "Since the emperor's uncle wants to go, then the emperor's nephew will naturally be more than happy to go."

"Speaking of which, the emperor's uncle has been in Peking for such a long time, and has fought in more than a hundred battles, both large and small. If we talk about his familiarity with the grassland, there are few people in the Ming Dynasty who can compare with the emperor's uncle."

Zhu Di's eyes were filled with surprise, and he could not help but say, "Grandson, are you serious?"

As soon as I said this, I immediately regretted it. It seemed a bit rude to ask this question.

Zhu Ying didn't care and said with a smile, "How could I joke with the emperor's uncle about such a big thing? It's absolutely true."

"If the emperor's uncle thinks there is no problem, I will talk to grandfather today. I think grandfather will agree."

Zhu Ying took the initiative to take over the old man's affairs.

When Zhu Di heard this, he was extremely excited.

The distance that he had originally felt towards Zhu Ying suddenly disappeared. At this moment he felt that Zhu Ying was truly the most suitable crown prince.

Putting himself in the other's shoes, Zhu Di felt that he would definitely not agree to it. He could not even think of such a thing as an overseas vassal state. Even if he did think of it, he would not implement it.

Zhu Ying was not joking, and told the old man about it during dinner in the evening.

"Grandson, do you really think it is feasible to let the fourth son go to Liaodong?" Zhu Yuanzhang asked after a little thought after listening.

Of course Zhu Ying understood the implication of these words.

That is, isn't he a little bit afraid of Zhu Di?

You have to know that things like making great contributions can sometimes have a great impact on soldiers and may even lead to changes in military power.

At this time, it is very common for soldiers to only recognize generals and not the emperor.

On the battlefield of life and death, blood and fire, the soldiers who have shared life and death with the general will naturally obey the general's orders between the emperor's orders and the general's orders.

Since ancient times, there have been so many rebellions, uprisings, and even abdications. Isn't this the case?

The news of the siege in Japan had already reached the capital of the Ming Dynasty.

In such a short period of time, they formed alliances and broke through two heavily defended Japanese cities, not to mention that they did not have an absolute advantage in terms of military strength.

Although the Ming capital would certainly not recognize such an achievement, its talent was demonstrated.

Apart from anything else, the soldiers who followed him to attack the city absolutely admired Prince of Yan Zhu Di very much.

But Zhu Ying is really not worried about these.

He was not afraid that Zhu Di could fight, but he was afraid that he could not fight.

Not to mention the grasslands, in the future, as long as Zhu Di wanted to go to Southeast Asia or the West, he would be allowed to go there.

No matter how powerful Zhu Di was, how many soldiers could he influence?

One hundred thousand? Two hundred thousand? Or three hundred thousand?

So what.

With the latest training methods, a large number of middle-level officers are already firmly under Zhu Ying's control.

Combined with the output of the Ming Military Academy, that is to say, except for the generals, there is no other way, and the ones below are basically being constantly replaced.

The soldiers were no longer just blind followers. With their minds freed, they knew exactly who they should be loyal to.

The economic boom of the Ming Dynasty, the protection, reputation and honor of the soldiers were all planned by Zhu Ying, and Zhu Ying naturally took the credit for it.

As long as he is still here, no matter how great achievements Zhu Di makes, there is no possibility of him turning against him.

How old was Zhu Di? He was in his thirties, and he was only nineteen, a difference of more than ten years.

Zhu Ying was the one who knew his own physical condition best. Living to be a hundred years was no problem for him. There was no way Zhu Di could outlive him.

Moreover, traveling long distances and leading troops in battle puts a heavy strain on the body.

Zhu Ying lives a life of luxury in the capital, so his health is second to none.

"Don't worry, Grandpa. I think I can handle the situation with Fourth Uncle." Zhu Ying said softly, with confidence evident in his tone.

Zhu Yuanzhang actually didn't want this to happen, but when he thought of Zhu Di's eldest son Zhu Gaochi, he felt that it didn't matter much.

Because the fourth brother alone cannot be compared with the current Ming Dynasty.

Zhu Gaochi was an honest child and would not inherit the same temperament as the fourth brother, so it didn't matter much.