Ming Dynasty: The Crocodile King of Han Prince Zhu Gaoxu's Family

Chapter 226 Yang Shiqi's Visit

Emperor Hongxi was right about the prediction that Prince Han would release Yang Shiqi. Sure enough, after receiving the message from Emperor Hongxi, Prince Han only pondered for a moment before decisively releasing Yang Shiqi on the spot.

Completely bewildered, Yang Shiqi followed the eunuch from the palace, heading towards Yunnan with deep doubts.

Along the way, Yang Shiqi gained a thorough understanding of the current state of the court through the eunuchs. He truly couldn't understand why Emperor Hongxi would hand over his ocean-going fleet, especially to the heir of the Prince of Han—wasn't this aiding the enemy?
But given the circumstances, he had no choice but to agree readily. After all, in Yang Shiqi's view, the Guangdong and Guangxi regions were far more important than the ocean-going fleet!
In Yunnan...

Today, Zhu Zhanhe was in his study, staring at a sand table on the table depicting lands bordering Yunnan: Lan Xang, Siam, Annam, Ava, the various Tibetan tribes, the Suri Kingdom, and other places. Of course, for more distant places like the Tibetan tribes and the Suri Kingdom, there was only a general outline, not a detailed map.

The maps are most detailed in terms of terrain in places like Lantau Island and Siam, since they were provided by Mu Sheng, who has been stationed in Yunnan for many years and is very familiar with the surrounding forces.

"Brother, Yang Shiqi has come to pay his respects." Just as Zhu Zhanhe was engrossed in looking at the sand table, his third brother, Zhu Zhanqi, suddenly knocked on the door and entered, bowing respectfully. As for why it wasn't his second brother, Zhu Zhanqi, it was because his second brother had been sent by Zhu Zhanhe to accompany the army, representing the Prince of Han's Mansion to attack the various tribes in Yunnan who had not participated in the military exercises.

"Oh? Let him in." Zhu Zhanhe was not surprised by Yang Shiqi's arrival. After all, Zhu Zhanhe and the Prince of Han had only stopped rebelling together, not lost contact. Before Yang Shiqi left the Prince of Han's place, the Prince of Han had already sent someone to deliver a message.

Of course, along with the news came information that Third Aunt Mu was bringing two legitimate daughters from the Zhao Prince's Mansion, as well as the news of the death of Zhao Prince Zhu Zhanyi.

In light of this, the Prince of Han made a grand gesture, deciding to send another 30,000 troops to his fiefdom in Yunnan! This move by the Prince of Han immediately gave Zhu Zhanhe a total of 110,000 troops. Although 30,000 of them were auxiliary soldiers, that was still 30,000 soldiers!
Of course, there were also countless amounts of money, grain, and supplies. It's fair to say that Zhu Zhanhe was incredibly wealthy at this time!
"Your Highness, I, Yang Shiqi, pay my respects." While Zhu Zhanhe was pondering, Yang Shiqi had already walked in from outside the door. As soon as he entered, Yang Shiqi bowed to Zhu Zhanhe in a very proper manner.

"Lord Yang, you're too kind. Please come to the side hall to sit down and talk." Zhu Zhanhe didn't mind that Yang Shiqi saw the sand table in front of him and warmly invited Yang Shiqi to sit down in the living room next door.

"Third brother, arrange for someone to serve tea. You can listen in from the side." Zhu Zhanhe readily arranged for his third brother, Zhu Zhanhan, to listen in. After all, the third brother was about to reach the age where he would be in charge of affairs in the Prince's Mansion, so it was good for him to get some experience in advance.

It wasn't that Zhu Zhanhe didn't want to arrange for others, but he simply had limited manpower.

"Yes." After hearing his elder brother's arrangement, the young Zhu Zhan'an finally understood the excitement his second brother, Zhu Zhanqi, felt when he was assigned a task. Zhu Zhan'an bowed to his elder brother with great emotion, took a deep breath, and quickly left.

In just a short while, Zhu Zhanyi personally brought in two cups of tea.

"Brother, have some tea!"

"Lord Yang, please have some tea!" Zhu Zhanyi respectfully offered tea to his elder brother and Yang Shiqi respectively, then quietly stood behind his elder brother, his eyes fixed intently on everything before him.

"Grand Secretary Yang, may I ask what brings you here today?" Zhu Zhanhe took a sip of tea and said to Yang Shiqi with a smile.

"Your Highness, I have been entrusted by the Emperor to discuss two matters with you." Yang Shiqi looked at Zhu Zhanhe, who spoke with neither humility nor arrogance, and who had the demeanor of an adult. He couldn't help but sigh inwardly: The Prince of Han is truly blessed to have such a son!

"Junior, I would like to hear the details," Zhu Zhanhe asked Yang Shiqi with the demeanor of a junior. "One matter: His Majesty is willing to give the Crown Prince the court's existing fleet as a gift, asking the Crown Prince to give the court time to build new ships. After all, the court is not having an easy time right now." As Yang Shiqi spoke, he observed Zhu Zhanhe's expression, but unfortunately, he did not find any useful emotion on Zhu Zhanhe's face. Instead, Zhu Zhanhe gestured for Yang Shiqi to continue.

"The second matter: His Majesty has entrusted me to ask His Highness the Crown Prince of Han to show me that item." This time, Yang Shiqi finally saw the difference in Zhu Zhanhe's expression, and even Zhu Zhanhe's son, Zhu Zhanyi, behind him, looked surprised.

"It seems that Grand Secretary Yang does not know what the Emperor is referring to. Please continue, Lord Yang." Zhu Zhanhe knew from Yang Shiqi's words that his uncle had not told Yang Shiqi what he was showing him, which explained Yang Shiqi's relaxed expression.

"Three things: Until I entered, I was still wondering if His Highness the Crown Prince was going to join the two princes in starting a rebellion. But after entering, I realized that I was being petty. Please forgive me, Your Highness." Yang Shiqi didn't show any particular expression because of Zhu Zhanhe's words. He simply glanced at the sand table he saw upon entering and boldly deduced that the Crown Prince of Han intended to expand his territory!
"Grand Secretary Yang is indeed remarkable." Zhu Zhanhe was not surprised by Yang Shiqi's keen insight. After all, he was a veteran of two reigns and had worked under Emperor Yongle for decades. He was no ordinary person.
"Then this junior will reply to Grand Secretary Yang one by one."

The first thing is that the existing old fleet of the imperial court is sent over, and I can grant the imperial court a one-year extension to build new ships. This is quite reasonable, isn't it?

After all, this was something my grandfather, Emperor Taizong, had promised to give me during his reign, and the Ministry of Works had been given an imperial edict. Surely my uncle wouldn't go back on my grandfather's decree? Even after His Highness the Crown Prince ascends the throne, he will still have to repay what the court owes him.” Zhu Zhanhe's goal was to get the ship. Since there were no new ones, a fully staffed old ship wouldn't be out of the question. So he generously granted the court a one-year extension.

But Zhu Zhanhe's words made Yang Shiqi's heart skip a beat. He didn't know what the Crown Prince of Han meant. Did the Crown Prince already know that the Emperor was about to die?
"Thank you for your understanding, Your Highness. I wonder if it would be possible to extend the period by two or three years? After all, the court is really on the verge of starvation." Before coming here, Yang Shiqi already knew that Emperor Hongxi was about to die. Therefore, considering the new emperor's ascension to the throne, the funeral arrangements, the construction of the mausoleum, and other matters, Yang Shiqi was very nervous, but he still very cautiously asked Zhu Zhanhe to extend the period by a few more years.

From beginning to end, Yang Shiqi never considered that the fleet would not be given to the Crown Prince of Han.

After all, this happened during the reign of the Yongle Emperor, and an imperial edict was issued, which raises questions about the legitimacy of the throne. If the court didn't provide the fleet, in the eyes of those with ulterior motives, it would be seen as the court disregarding the late emperor, or as the current emperor overturning the late emperor's will, which would be tantamount to the emperor relinquishing his own legitimacy to the throne.

Furthermore, considering that the Prince of Han is still rebelling and has already assigned over 100,000 troops to the Crown Prince of Han, if the court really refuses to provide ships, wouldn't that be tantamount to pushing the Crown Prince of Han, who commands over 100,000 elite troops, onto the path of rebellion alongside the Prince of Han? Yang Shiqi cannot afford to gamble, and neither can the court.

Therefore, Yang Shiqi's idea from beginning to end was to delay, preferably to give it to them after ten or eight years, rather than not to give it to them at all.

"Lord Yang, this matter is not something a junior should consider, but rather something the imperial court should consider."

Moreover, isn't Lord Yang curious about what the Emperor has instructed you to see here in front of me?

Perhaps, after Lord Yang sees that item, he will be even more eager than I am to have the imperial court send the fleet to Yunnan.” Zhu Zhanhe looked at Yang Shiqi with a grin, but for some reason, that smile suddenly gave Yang Shiqi a chill down his spine.

"Third brother, go and make preparations. In a little while, we will invite Lord Yang to tour the magnificent lakes of Dali." Seeing Yang Shiqi's suddenly tense expression, Zhu Zhanhe turned his head and instructed his younger brother behind him.

"Yes!" Zhu Zhanqi answered crisply and decisively, then turned and left.

(End of this chapter)