Old Zhu looked at the capital city with some reluctance. "Alright, don't worry about this for now. If we move the capital, there will be less resistance!"
Old Zhu was actually intentionally relinquishing power. For example, he didn't attend court this time, citing his advanced age and illness as the reason, and sent Zhu Xiong Ying to court instead. But if anyone truly believed that Old Zhu was old and frail, they were courting death. Once this seemingly aged lion bares its teeth, it can tear everything in its path to shreds.
Zhu Xiong Ying smiled and nodded. The decision to move the capital had been made long ago, and it was for the future of the Ming Dynasty.
In matters like these, there are times when personal feelings cannot prevail. Although Yingtian Prefecture held special significance for both the old Zhu and the young Zhu, they were emperors and imperial grandsons, so their positions and motivations were naturally different.
Zhu Xiong Ying seemed to remember something and said with a smile, "Grandpa, Fourth Uncle and the others have done a good job in Japan. The Japanese Emperor and Shogun have been driven to remote places, but the people there are quite fierce, so the Imperial Uncles will have to put in some effort."
Old Zhu couldn't help but laugh, and said with a hint of pride, "Your uncles were often lawless and indifferent to the people when they were in their fiefdoms. Now that they have their own bases, they've all come to their senses."
Zhu Xiong Ying chuckled and said, “Of course it’s different. Although we had fiefdoms in the Ming Dynasty, it was still part of the Ming Dynasty’s territory. Now that we’ve gone to Japan, it’s our own territory, so our mindset is different. The people we knew before were the people of the Ming Dynasty, but now they are their subjects.”
Zhu Xiong Ying didn't need to care at all about the changes in the mentality of his uncles; it was perfectly normal.
In the past, even if there were some illegal activities in their fiefdoms, they were all about bullying the people of the Ming Dynasty. Even if the people had grievances, they mostly cursed the imperial court. The lives and deaths of the people were not of much concern to these vassal kings.
But things are different now. Although those people are not yet loyal to the government, they are still his own people. To develop his territory, he naturally needs more people, more patience, and he must consider the lives of his people.
Even if someone is a prince in the Ming Dynasty, they are still just a prince; they are not the rulers of the land. However, if someone has their own territory, even if it is just a wild and undeveloped place, it is still their own territory, and their mindset will naturally be very different.
There was nothing surprising about the mentality and thoughts of these imperial uncles; Zhu Xiong Ying also felt that these things were quite normal.
Looking at Old Zhu, Zhu Xiong Ying said with a smile, "The adjustment on the Embroidered Uniform Guard side has also gone smoothly. Some Embroidered Uniform Guards were dismissed, and they were all slick, biased, or brutal people. Those who should be punished were punished, and those who should be resettled were resettled. There were no problems."
Old Zhu nodded slightly, then asked, "So what are your thoughts now? I heard you sent quite a few capable men to the Eastern Depot, and those agents are now no less capable than the Embroidered Uniform Guard."
Zhu Xiong Ying laughed and said with a hint of pride, "What the Eastern Depot is doing now is what the Embroidered Uniform Guard did back then, only without the strength and arrogance of the Embroidered Uniform Guard. I also didn't give them the power of punishment. When the Eastern Depot gains power, the Embroidered Uniform Guard should be reinstated."
Old Zhu couldn't help but laugh. His grandson knew the art of checks and balances, and fortunately, he knew more than just that. Young Zhu was full of ambition.
While relocating the capital isn't exactly urgent, it should certainly be undertaken steadily. Leaving this prosperous Jiangnan region will likely face considerable resistance from within the court.
However, even if the court officials wanted to oppose such a matter, they probably couldn't do much against the powerful Emperor Zhu. This was national policy, something Emperor Zhu had prepared for long ago, and it was impossible for ordinary people to change his mind at this point.
Ultimately, the die was cast, and the relocation of the capital was something that certain people simply couldn't change. The decision made by Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhu Yuanzhang concerned the succession and rule of the Ming Dynasty—that was the most important matter.
The seemingly frail and elderly Emperor Zhu, along with the dashing and heroic Crown Prince, were of one mind. When these two were of one mind, many things were truly unchangeable, and no one could stand against them!
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