Zhu Yunying felt it was only right to bestow upon these meritorious generals some honors during their lifetime and posthumous honors. These were all deserved, earned through their bloodshed on the battlefield.
Old Zhu actually had the same idea. He also wanted to share wealth and glory with his old brothers who had fought alongside him to build the empire.
However, as an emperor, there are times when he cannot tolerate certain things. For example, the old brothers forming cliques, or being arrogant, domineering, and corrupt—these are clearly things that Zhu Yuanzhang cannot tolerate. He is not only the emperor of the Huai-Xi nobles, but also the emperor of the Ming Dynasty, so there are some things he must do.
To be honest, Emperor Taizong of Tang, Li Shimin, sometimes held him in high regard, regardless of the fates of the descendants of those meritorious officials. Most of those officials, during Emperor Taizong's reign, were able to die peacefully, which can be considered a celebrated story of a ruler and his ministers.
But Zhu knew he couldn't actually do those things; he had killed some of his meritorious officials. While it wasn't a complete purge, the number wasn't small either. So it was just a thought; Zhu didn't really regret his actions.
Some nobles should be purged, otherwise the people of the Ming Dynasty will suffer, and future generations will face difficulties.
Since it was destined that an emperor would bear some infamy, Zhu Yuanzhang didn't mind if it was him. Besides, Zhu Yuanzhang wasn't narcissistic; some bold and decisive things were only convenient and legitimate for him, as the founding emperor, to do.
As for his grandson's plan to purge some nobles, Old Zhu wasn't surprised. He had long known that his grandson was just like him at heart. He might seem less domineering, but he was no less ruthless, even ruthless, at heart.
For an emperor, such a personality trait might not necessarily be a bad thing.
Little Zhu listened from the side, and Old Zhu and Little Zhu weren't worried at all about setting a bad example for the child. Little Zhu was the Crown Prince, and his status was different, which naturally meant that there were certain things he would have to deal with sooner or later, and these were things he needed to learn to sort out.
To have been taught by two emperors was a blessing for young Zhu. More importantly, the unreserved instruction was an invaluable opportunity for a crown prince, allowing him to grow and mature.
Becoming a crown prince is no easy task. To be a wise emperor is an even greater challenge.
Zhu Yunying decided to stay and rest in the Qianqing Palace. He was too lazy to make a fuss, as running around was tiring. He also had many things to deal with soon, requiring both mental and physical effort, so there was no need for him to be preoccupied with women all day.
In truth, Zhu Yunying wasn't particularly interested in women; what he cared about most was power. Unlike his father, Emperor Zhu, he didn't have inexhaustible energy for political pursuits, and when busy with state affairs, Zhu Yunying often felt exhausted.
At Wang Chengen's soft call, Zhu Yunying opened his eyes and got out of bed without much struggle. He was very quiet, just to avoid disturbing the soundly sleeping little Zhu.
"This child sleeps soundly, just like you did when you were little." Old Zhu slowly got up and said softly to Zhu Yunying, "I remember when your grandmother was taking care of you, we rarely managed to wake you up when we went to the morning court."
Zhu Yunying chuckled, turning to look at Old Zhu and saying, "Sometimes I am awake, but I just can't open my eyes. Back then, Grandfather wasn't so considerate, and he spoke quite loudly. It was Grandmother who doted on me and scolded you quite a bit."
Old Zhu chuckled upon hearing this and said, "Back then, we couldn't think about so many things. It had only been a short time since the founding of the country, and we were always busy. It was only because your grandmother was meticulous and attentive to the children that she remembered those things. That's wonderful."
Zhu Yunying smiled but didn't say much. He did remember some things and had some impression of them. Although not everything was vivid in his mind, he wouldn't forget most of the things from his childhood like an ordinary child.
Old Zhu said, "Now we always think about the past, about what happened back in our hometown, about what happened in the temple, about how the Guo family suspected us in Haozhou. If we're talking about truly comfortable days, it was only during the first few years after the founding of the People's Republic, when your grandmother was still alive. We didn't live our lives in vain."
Zhu Yunying said with certainty, "Your Majesty..."
Grandfather's achievements are unparalleled in history, and few can rival them. Though there have been some setbacks, there are many things worth remembering. Grandfather, please do not worry about your grandson; if that day truly comes, I will bear it.
Looking at his grandson with loving eyes, Old Zhu felt an indescribable pang of heartache.
This child has already experienced the pain of losing his mother, and then his grandmother, who raised him single-handedly, also passed away. The pain of losing his father has only just begun to subside, and he'll probably lose his grandfather soon as well. Although this child was born into wealth and privilege, he will still suffer a lot.
After being dressed with the help of eunuchs, Zhu Yunying opened his arms in front of his grandfather, Zhu Yuanzhang, and asked, "Grandfather, do I look like a wise ruler?"
Old Zhu nodded firmly and said with a smile, "Our grandson is a wise ruler!"
Zhu Yunying laughed and said, "Then you rest, we'll go to court to handle some matters. A wise ruler should be diligent in his duties and govern the Ming Dynasty well. If we are all diligent in our duties, we can leave a prosperous country for our descendants and ensure the longevity of our Ming Dynasty!"
Even though Zhu Yuanzhang (the Hongwu Emperor) felt sorry for his grandson, he had no intention of stopping him. Such matters were the responsibility of the emperor; as the head of the Zhu family and the emperor of the Ming Dynasty, he had an inescapable duty to address them.
The moment he left the palace, the faint smile on Zhu Yunying's face vanished. Now he was simply a calm emperor, his emotions unreadable. It would be difficult to deduce his thoughts from his expressions.
My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
