Zhu Xiong Ying was in a good mood and said to Wang Cheng En, "Go and summon Lord Li."
After leaving Li Shanchang idle for a few more days, Zhu Xiong Ying decided to use him a little. Although he knew that Li Shanchang was no longer young and strong, and might not be as dedicated as before.
However, Zhu Xiong Ying didn't care. He didn't need Li Shan Chang to use all his skills now. The world was at peace. What Zhu Xiong Ying needed now was for Li Shan Chang to help him share some of the burden. Zhu Xiong Ying had a lot to do.
Upon Li Shanchang's arrival, he immediately knelt down, saying, "This sinner, Li Shanchang, pays his respects to His Highness the Crown Prince."
Zhu Xiong Ying smiled and raised his hand. "Please rise, Lord Li. You are, after all, my elder. My aunt and the Imperial Son-in-Law are both in Jiangpu now, which is not a good thing. How about this, I'll have someone bring them both to Beiping?"
Li Shanchang's eyes lit up. His entire household was now practically scattered. Li Shanchang no longer expected to be restored to his title of Duke, but if his descendants could be safe and survive, that would be the best outcome. It was certainly better than his younger brother Li Cunyi and nephew Ding Bin being executed along with their entire families.
Although Li Shanchang was excited, he still asked cautiously, "Your Highness, where is the throne?"
Zhu Xiong Ying said confidently, "There's no need for Lord Li to worry about that. My eldest aunt is a princess after all, and my grandfather will definitely take care of her. Lord Li, even if you don't think about yourself, you should think about my two younger cousins. If things continue like this, it will be difficult for them to get ahead in the future and obtain a title, right?"
Li Shanchang was immediately tempted. He had no chance, and his son Li Qi's chances of getting ahead were slim as well. But Li Shanchang cared about his two grandsons. Although Li Fang and Li Mao had escaped punishment due to the princess's favor, it would be difficult for them to rise in the future.
Li Shanchang was extremely excited, tears streaming down his face. "This sinner, Li Shanchang, thanks the Crown Prince for his great kindness!"
Zhu Xiong Ying laughed and said to Li Shan Chang, "Lord Li must have been well-informed before. I have granted several positions as deputy commanders and left and right commanders. Although they are hereditary officials, their descendants should be wealthy and have a good chance to rise in the ranks."
Li Shanchang naturally knew this, but he might have looked down on it before, but things were different now.
The titles of Commander-in-Chief and Vice Commander-in-Chief promised to the Crown Prince were reserved for his aunt's son. The Crown Prince was practically raised by Princess Ningguo and Princess Anqing, especially Princess Anqing who raised Zhu Xiong Ying. Such closeness is rare.
Now that his title has been stripped, Li Shanchang naturally no longer looks down on those like the Vice Commander-in-Chief, as they are unattainable!
When talking to a smart person, Zhu Xiong Ying didn't need to explain things too clearly. It all depended on whether Li Shan Chang could understand. If he exhausted himself and died while assisting Zhu Xiong Ying, Zhu Xiong Ying might thoroughly investigate Li Shan Chang's affairs later and perhaps restore his title, but the possibility of that was not very high.
However, it is possible that Li Shanchang's two grandsons will be granted official positions and titles, since they are his aunt's sons.
After Li Shanchang left, Zhu Xiong Ying said, "From now on, let Lord Li handle some matters. Those matters concerning military pay, food rations, and people's livelihood should be handled by Lord Li first, and then sent to me for review."
Wang Chengen naturally accepted the order immediately. He also felt that the Crown Prince was too tired, with endless affairs to handle every day.
Zhu Xiong Ying didn't care about those things. Li Shan Chang was sensible; he was doing it for the benefit of his descendants. If Li Shan Chang continued to act arrogantly, Zhu Xiong Ying wouldn't mind supporting an old man, but it would be difficult for Li Shan Chang's descendants to rise in the ranks.
While continuing his official duties, Zhu Xiong Ying wrote a letter, "to be sent to the Prince of Qin and the Prince of Jin."
Now that many landlords and commoners are unwilling to grow cotton, it's the local military households and others who want to grow it. Even the princes shouldn't be idle; they all have to start growing cotton. Not everyone has to grow cotton, but it needs to be on a certain scale.
Prince Zhu Su of Zhou is currently reflecting on his actions in his hometown of Fengyang because he left his fiefdom without permission. Zhu Xiong Ying gave a letter to Prince Zhu You Dun, the heir apparent of Prince Zhou. Prince Zhu You Dun is currently in charge of the affairs of the fiefdom, and Zhu Xiong Ying gave the letter in the name of his elder brother.
Younger brothers, you must be sensible and share your elder brother's burdens. Otherwise, it's hard to say whether a treasure like Kaifeng will still be the fiefdom of the Zhou King. After all, leaving one's fiefdom without permission is a serious crime, and Old Zhu originally planned to move Zhu Su to Yunnan.
After all, Kaifeng is a good place, and Zhu Xiong Ying's younger brother can't just be a womanizer. The future fiefdom of the Crown Prince's younger brother must be a good place. Now that many good places have been granted, Zhu Xiong Ying is sharpening his knives.
It's possible that it's not just Zhu Xiong Ying who's sharpening his knives; the eldest Zhu is sharpening his knives too. His brothers are close, but none are as close as his own sons. The eldest son is the Crown Prince and there's no need to worry, but the illegitimate sons and the second legitimate sons are all waiting.
It's right to follow the emperor's lead, but we can't disregard the crown prince and grandson.
Moreover, Zhu Xiong Ying's letters weren't sent out casually. Even though some vassal kings were eagerly waiting, Zhu Xiong Ying didn't make a move. Zhu Xiong Ying expressed goodwill; whether the vassal kings accepted them or not was another matter.
Let's see what happens next year, and look at the scale of cotton planting. That's the best way to show everyone's stance.
I still need to continue writing letters home. My troublesome younger brother, at such a young age, has actually started frequenting brothels; I have to address this. I need to write to my two younger sisters and ask them to keep an eye on him. I also need to write to my two aunts and ask them to keep an eye on him. Although Chang Lan is difficult to manage, it wouldn't hurt to give her a heads-up.
Flipping through the reports, Zhu Xiong Ying also carefully studied some military reports that Xu Yun Gong and Li Jing Long had previously sent back. Now that he had a little more time, he could naturally study them in detail, and Zhu Xiong Ying would not be careless about these matters.
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