As Emperor Zhu reviewed the memorials reviewed by Zhu Biao, he grew even more satisfied. He was extremely pleased with his eldest son. The Crown Prince's control over the court and his handling of political affairs pleased Emperor Zhu greatly.
"Father, if we launch an attack on Liaobei this time, we must have Lan Yu go with us," Zhu Biao said while continuing to review memorials. "Liaobei must be pacified, and Nahachu must be dealt with."
Nahachu, the Grand Commandant of the Northern Yuan, occupied the area north of the Songhua River, with hundreds of thousands of followers. He operated in Liaodong and the Liao River basin, posing a major threat to the Ming Empire in the Northeast.
Eliminating this force was something that Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhu Biao had long wanted to do. Although the Yuan dynasty had been driven out of the Central Plains, they remained active on the northeastern border and harbored a treacherous desire to return to the Central Plains.
Old Zhu nodded and said, "We're currently training our troops and gathering supplies; it's time to get rid of these scourges. Biao'er, what do you think of Lan Yu?"
“He has the talent of a general, but he is too arrogant.” Zhu Biao laughed and said to his father, “Father has many such arrogant and domineering military officers under his command. If Lan Yu could restrain himself a little, he would be a good weapon.”
Old Zhu smiled. As the Crown Princess's maternal uncle, Lan Yu naturally did his best to protect Crown Prince Zhu Biao's position as heir apparent. As the banner of military merit under the Crown Prince, Old Zhu still hoped that Lan Yu could help Zhu Biao control military power after Zhu Biao ascended the throne, and that Lan Yu could assist the Crown Prince in eliminating the Northern Yuan.
Remembering something, Zhu Biao said with a smile, "Father, your son has already earned many military merits in the Eastern Palace, and many generals are commanding troops in the field. I haven't thought much about it, but that boy Ying'er is also cultivating his own military force."
Old Zhu couldn't help but laugh out loud; this was something he was quite proud of.
Zhu Yuanzhang had no reservations about the Crown Prince's control of the military; in fact, many generals served the Crown Prince at his behest. While other emperors might have been wary of their crown princes wielding military power, Zhu Yuanzhang was genuinely unconcerned; the more military power his crown prince held, the better.
“Ying’er, we’ll bestow upon him the title of King of the Four Seas in a few days!” Old Zhu laughed and said to Zhu Biao, “We can see that our grandson is eager to do something.”
Zhu Biao joked, "Let's not give the Four Seas King to Ying'er, lest people in the court have too many thoughts. Let's give it to Yunwen, let him be Ying'er's assistant, brothers fight tigers together."
Throughout history, many emperors in their prime were wary of close relationships between the Crown Prince and his ministers, and even more so of the Crown Prince's control of the military. But it was different for Zhu Yuanzhang. The Crown Prince's inner circle included many military men, especially those like Lan Yu, who were being groomed as middle-aged talents.
This can be considered as following suit. Although Zhu Xiong Ying, the imperial grandson, did not have much contact with military officers and generals, the emperor and the crown prince turned a blind eye to his attempt to cultivate his own military faction, and were somewhat pleased to see it happen.
Zhu Xiong Ying, full of enthusiasm, rushed to the Wu Ying Hall with a prepared memorial in hand. "Grandfather, do you think my memorial is acceptable?"
Zhu Biao put down his brush and said irritably, "You were quite polite when you were little, how come you've become less and less polite as you grow up?"
“I don’t need to pretend in front of my grandfather!” Zhu Xiong Ying said confidently. “But outside, everyone says that the Crown Prince is gentle, refined, and magnanimous, with some of the demeanor of the Crown Prince.”
Zhu Biao was both amused and annoyed. He tapped the table and said, "I am not like you. Anyone with a little shrewdness can see that you are just a monkey in a crown. If you really want to be refined, you should read more of the works of the sages and cultivate your righteousness."
“Father, I am your own son!” Zhu Xiong Ying slumped his shoulders and said without backing down, “I remember some time ago, when I was teaching Yunwen and Yuntong to read, you said in private that I was not allowed to study Confucianism too much.”
Zhu Biao shook his head and emphasized again, "I don't want you to study Confucianism too much, I don't want you to become a pedantic and pedantic scholar. You are different from Yunwen and Yuntong. They can study with great Confucian scholars and famous officials and become wise princes in the future. You are the Crown Prince, and the Ming Dynasty should be handed over to you in the future."
Zhu Xiong Ying was even more helpless and a little annoyed. "I'm going to strip Ru Chang of her flying fish costume later. She's been nagging me all day long!"
Old Zhu and Zhu Biao laughed too. They were used to the older Zhu Xiong Ying often saying some ridiculous things in front of them. In fact, they knew perfectly well that the Crown Prince was just trying to amuse them.
As for the matter of the Crown Prince studying Confucianism, as the emperor, there are some things that are truly beyond his control, and sometimes he needs to set an example.
Having risen from humble beginnings to the throne, Zhu Yuanzhang needed to demonstrate his stance. His preferential treatment of scholars, including the Crown Prince and his grandson studying Confucianism, was a signal to his subjects.
Even though Emperor Zhu privately forbade his crown prince and grandson from studying Confucianism too deeply, it didn't stop him from projecting an image of them as well-versed in Confucian classics and benevolent and magnanimous. After all, this was the imperial family, and many people were watching closely.
Old Zhu flipped through the inventory list and asked, "What's so special about these goods?"
"My grandson sent someone to find the old officials from the former Yuan Dynasty's Maritime Trade Office. They have goods that the Japanese like and can sell for high prices," Zhu Xiong Ying said immediately. "Besides these merchants, there are also officials from the former Yuan Dynasty's Maritime Trade Office. I sent people to ask them one by one."
Old Zhu nodded in satisfaction, then asked, "You may not know this, but although our ship is big, on the open ocean, a single wave can capsize it."
"Of course I know, I've sent someone to find a guide from the Yuan Dynasty. Besides, my Ming Dynasty has quite a few sailors." Zhu Xiong Ying said excitedly, "Grandfather, back then our Ming Dynasty soldiers chased us all the way to Ryukyu, which is close to Japan."
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