I am the prince of the Ming Dynasty, I don't give up

Chapter 574: Unification and Succession

After spending a few days in the prison, Jiang Bin finally received his first visitor.
"Your Highness Prince Wu! Spare my life! Spare my life! From now on I will be your dog!" Jiang Bin shouted frantically after seeing the visitor.

He has been living in great torment these past few days, shrouded in the fear of death all day long.
He has enjoyed wealth and glory, so he is more afraid of death.
Zhu Houxuan silently looked at Jiang Bin, who was wagging his tail and begging for mercy, with no sadness or joy in his eyes.
"I know I was wrong. I was just a momentary thought! I am still useful to you. Please spare my life." Jiang Bin continued to shout frantically. He knew that this might be the last time he saw Zhu Houxuan, so he had to seize every opportunity to survive.
"Why do you think you can survive?" Zhu Houxun finally spoke, "How much trouble did your so-called one-thought difference cause? Because of your so-called one-thought difference, thousands of guardsmen died meaninglessly outside the capital."

Jiang Bin was stunned when he heard this and wanted to beg for mercy again, but Zhu Houxuan's next words had already determined his fate.
"Someone must be held responsible for the deaths of these guards. Your fate was decided the moment you ordered the guards to leave the city to fight." Zhu Houxuan said in an unquestionable tone.

Jiang Bin sat on the ground in a daze, then begged frantically for mercy.
"You were once the admiral of the Imperial Guards. I will let you go with dignity, but you also have to behave yourself with dignity." Zhu Houxuan raised his voice, drowning out Jiang Bin's plea for mercy.

Jiang Bin knew that he was going to die, so he asked, "Where are my family members?"

"The males must die, while the females can live but will be exiled overseas," Zhu Houxun said.

"It's good enough to be alive. Thank you for your grace, Your Highness." Jiang Bin has begun to accept his fate.

Zhu Houxuan nodded indifferently. His punishment of Jiang Bin was indeed a mercy. In all previous dynasties, those who participated in rebellion would be exterminated.
Jiang Bin's fate was thus determined.
Zhu Houzhao's condition was gradually improving, but in order to prevent Zhu Houzhao from getting too excited, Zhu Houxuan did not dare to tell him the whole story of the coup without reservation. He only told him part of it, and it took a lot of effort to barely cover it up.
During the Spring Festival of the 25th year of the Zhengde reign, Zhu Houzhao sat in a specially made wheelchair and was pushed by Zhu Houxuan to attend the morning court session in the Fengtian Hall.
This caused a huge response from the court and the public, and also refuted many rumors against Zhu Houxuan.
The most uncomfortable ones are the southern gentry and nobles who are constantly connecting and making various preparations.
Zhu Houzhao had great appeal in this era. His orthodox status was irrefutable, and his brilliant achievements brought him unparalleled prestige.
This is something that no one can ignore.
With Zhu Houzhao's endorsement, the rebels in the south could not directly oppose Zhu Houzhao.
Because at this time, Zhu Houzhao was the symbol of the Ming Dynasty! At this time, the Ming Dynasty still had the people's hearts. Not only did they not lose the people's hearts, but also because of Zhu Houzhao's series of achievements in expanding the territory, the national sentiment in the country was high, and the people were willing to support the Ming Dynasty.
Therefore, the southern rebels did not dare to start a rebellion in the face of this situation, because it would be unreasonable! In ancient China, people emphasized the importance of having a legitimate reason to start a rebellion. Now they had no reason to start a rebellion. To start a rebellion by force would be to seek death.

They even slowed down their preparations because rebellion at this time would not win many people's support. On the contrary, some people in their team kept changing their minds and wanted to withdraw from the rebellion.
But as more intelligence about Zhu Houzhao came out, everyone realized that Zhu Houzhao would not live for many more years, and Zhu Houxuan did not pursue the matter of the coup in the capital, so the division of the entire country was forcibly covered up.
People on both sides are slowly accumulating strength, waiting for that day to come.
February 15, the 26th year of the Zhengde reign, at a manor in the western suburbs of Beijing.

There are many peach trees planted in this manor. At this time, the peach blossoms are in full bloom. Zhu Houxuan is pushing Zhu Houzhao, who is sitting on the dragon chair, to stroll in the peach forest full of blooming peach blossoms.
Zhu Houzhao was still thin, but in much better spirits. This was Zhu Houzhao's sanatorium. This place was far away from the capital, very quiet, and the air was very fresh. There was no coal smoke in the air of the capital, which could greatly relieve Zhu Houzhao's cough.
Zhu Houzhao was wrapped in a thick fur coat, greedily enjoying the spring sunshine and the fragrance of flowers around him, feeling very comfortable.
"This is a great place you found!" Zhu Houzhao exclaimed.

"Then my royal brother, please stay here and recuperate until you recover from your illness." Zhu Houxuan said with a smile.

"I know my own body well," Zhu Houzhao said with a sigh, "I think it's time to prepare for some things."

Zhu Houxuan opened his mouth to speak, but was interrupted by Zhu Houzhao, "Brother, you don't have to say anything. In fact, I have already made up my mind about this matter. It is also something I have always wanted to give you, but I have never said it clearly." Zhu Houzhao's eyes were very bright, "I am a real lonely person, and I don't have many relatives in this huge capital. Fortunately, God let you, my brother, come to my side."

"I have no offspring, but the Ming Dynasty cannot be without a master. I have always been interested in you. You are different from others. All the civil and military officials in the court are incompetent, but you are the only one who has been solving problems. What the Ming Dynasty needs is people like you. I will hand the Ming Dynasty over to you. Even when I go to the underworld and face the ancestors of the Ming Dynasty, I will not be in vain at all!" Zhu Houzhao said with a smile.

"Royal brother." Zhu Houxuan said.

"Listen to me!" Zhu Houzhao said domineeringly, "I wanted to make you the crown prince a long time ago, but I was afraid that our relationship would be affected, so I hesitated and waited for the right time. I think now is the most appropriate time."

"Don't refuse! This position seems glorious, but it is also a heavy burden that only you can carry," Zhu Houzhao said earnestly.

"Actually, I didn't want to refuse, but before I accept it, I want to ask what to do about the issue of Tong and Heir?" Zhu Houxuan stopped being coy and said directly.

Zhu Houzhao took a deep breath and said, "It would be best if you could become my brother and inherit the throne."

"I have no objection to becoming the late emperor's heir and becoming a brother to my brother. But..."

"But what?" Zhu Houzhao asked immediately.

"I don't want to call her mother," Zhu Houxuan looked straight at Zhu Houzhao.

Zhu Houzhao was stunned at first, then he burst into laughter, laughing so hard that tears came out.
(End of this chapter)