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

Chapter 233 The Bewildered Crown Prince Zhu Zhanji

"So what's going on now?"
The letter from the Guangdong and Guangxi Provincial Administration Commission requesting assistance did not explain the specific reasons why the Crown Prince of Han sent troops to them, which means that they themselves did not know why the Crown Prince of Han sent troops!
"But since the Crown Prince of Han has already received the fleet, why did he break his promise? And why does he still want to occupy Guangdong and Guangxi?" Yang Pu stared at his two old friends who had worked together for many years and asked with a solemn expression.

"Dissatisfied with the ships!" Upon hearing Yang Pu's question, Yang Shiqi and Yang Rong exchanged a glance and exclaimed in unison. In an instant, the three Yangs of the cabinet realized the possible reason why the Crown Prince of Han, despite the prior promise, still intended to send troops to occupy Guangdong and Guangxi—the Crown Prince was dissatisfied with the ships sent by the court! This had led to the Crown Prince's anger and humiliation, resulting in his decision to send troops to Guangdong and Guangxi!
What's wrong with the ship?
What went wrong with the boat?
How could there be a problem with the boat?

"Investigate now!" After guessing the key to the problem, Yang Shiqi and the other two were all furious. They were about to set off to find out the specific cause of the problem.

The three men had a simple idea: within their capabilities, they had to minimize the losses to the court, even if it meant giving the Crown Prince of Han some compensation in private. But now they had to solve this problem, protect Guangdong and Guangxi, and save face for the court!
"Hurry! The Emperor has been dead for less than a month, and the Crown Prince has not yet ascended the throne. The Prince of Han and the Prince of Zhao are still rebelling."

If it were truly due to the imperial court's fault that the Crown Prince of Han was sending troops to Guangdong and Guangxi at this critical juncture, wouldn't the imperial court be making a huge joke? Where would the imperial court's reputation be?

"If the problem of the imperial clan leading troops to occupy the territory occurred at the beginning of the Crown Prince's reign, none of us can bear that responsibility!" Yang Shiqi said to his two old friends with a solemn expression.

Yang Pu and Yang Rong both nodded in agreement.

"Go investigate now, and find out the reason today."

"Once the cause is found, the three of us will gather here to discuss countermeasures!" As the Grand Secretary, Yang Shiqi directly issued the order that no one could leave work until the work was completed today.

"Let's go, right now!" At this moment, the three Yangs of the cabinet demonstrated their decisive and efficient way of handling things, and the three of them immediately turned around and left.

Around noon, the three Yangs of the Cabinet gathered again in the Cabinet. At this moment, all three of them frowned, looked at each other, and remained silent. After a while, someone finally spoke.

"Let's go and discuss countermeasures with the Crown Prince. Perhaps there's still a chance to salvage this situation?" Yang Rong said to Yang Shiqi and Yang Pu with a look of helplessness, carefully observing their expressions.

"Don't overthink it. Even if we start arranging to send those things to Yunnan right now, there won't be enough time!"

By the time the supplies reach Yunnan, the Crown Prince of Han might already be besieging the cities of Guangdong and Guangxi, or even have captured one of them! Yang Shiqi shook his head helplessly, indicating that even if the court arranged to send the missing supplies to the Crown Prince of Han now, it would be too late.

“Then we must make His Highness the Crown Prince aware of this matter, otherwise, we cannot bear the responsibility of losing Guangdong and Guangxi.” Yang Pu looked at Yang Shiqi and Yang Rong with a bitter expression, his worry evident on his face.

"Alright, then let's go find His Highness the Crown Prince and report this matter!" Having no other choice, Yang Shiqi decided to inform Crown Prince Zhu Zhanji about the matter, but he still dragged his two old friends along to share the consequences, lest he be unable to bear the responsibility alone!

At that moment, Zhu Zhanji was observing mourning before the coffin after having lunch when a young eunuch quickly walked in, bent down, and whispered a few words in Zhu Zhanji's ear. Zhu Zhanji's eyes widened in surprise, and he silently got up from before the coffin and left the mourning hall.

After leaving the mourning hall, Zhu Zhanji strode towards the study. He knew that for the three Yangs of the cabinet to come looking for him at the same time, and to summon him directly in front of the coffin, the matter must be serious!
At that moment, the Three Yangs were waiting for Zhu Zhanji's arrival in the Imperial Study. "Greetings, Your Highness the Crown Prince! May Your Highness be well!" Seeing Zhu Zhanji stride in from outside, the Three Yangs quickly stepped forward and knelt down to pay their respects. After all, Zhu Zhanji was already the future emperor, so kneeling in advance was reasonable.

"Please rise, gentlemen. What important matter brings you here?" Zhu Zhanji did not hesitate. After the three Yangs rose, he went straight to the point and asked what important matter was. Then, Zhu Zhanji sat down on the bright yellow dragon throne without any hesitation.

"Your Highness, something important has happened!" Yang Shiqi, as the eldest of the Three Yangs, spoke up directly, but did not explain what had happened.

"Hmm?" Seeing that Yang Shiqi said he had something important to report, but did not say what it was, Zhu Zhanji knew that things were probably not simple, and he couldn't help but frown.

"You may all leave." Zhu Zhanji was no fool; he knew that Yang Shiqi's refusal to discuss the specifics meant he didn't want too many people to know. So, he simply waved his hand, and the eunuchs and palace maids serving in the study immediately withdrew.

"Your Highness, something important has happened. The Guangdong and Guangxi Provincial Administration Commission has sent a letter requesting assistance, saying that Prince Zhu Zhanhe of the Han Dynasty has informed Guangdong and Guangxi that he will send troops directly to Guangdong and Guangxi after the Emperor's mourning period ends!" Yang Shiqi saw the eunuchs and palace maids around him leaving and closing the door, so he stepped forward and informed Zhu Zhanji of the seriousness of the matter.

"What? Zhanhe is plotting a rebellion?" When Zhu Zhanji heard that Zhu Zhanhe was about to send troops to Guangdong and Guangxi, his first thought was that Zhu Zhanhe was plotting a rebellion. Zhu Zhanji jumped up from the dragon throne as if his pants were on fire, rushed to the three Yangs, and asked incredulously.

"Your Highness, the Crown Prince of Han is not plotting a rebellion." Seeing Zhu Zhanji's nervous appearance, Yangpu knew that the Crown Prince Zhu Zhanji was nervous at the moment. After all, the Prince of Han and the Prince of Zhao had plotted a rebellion first. Now, if the Crown Prince of Han really raised an army in his fiefdom, the world would really be in chaos! But Yangpu did not know how to explain to the Crown Prince that the cause of this matter was due to the court's mistake.

"If it's not treason, then what is it?" Zhu Zhanji breathed a slight sigh of relief when Yang Pu told him that Zhu Zhanhe, who was preparing to march on Guangdong and Guangxi, was not plotting a rebellion. But then his heart jumped. The Crown Prince of Han was already preparing to occupy Guangdong and Guangxi, and he still wasn't plotting a rebellion? Were you three trying to comfort me because you were afraid I couldn't accept it? At this moment, Zhu Zhanji was full of doubt and somewhat bewildered.

"Your Highness, the Crown Prince of Han is not plotting a rebellion, but rather retaliating against the court!" Yang Rong would never admit that the Crown Prince of Han was planning a rebellion. After discussion, the three of them unanimously concluded that the Crown Prince was merely retaliating against the court, and absolutely not plotting a rebellion! At this critical juncture, this absolutely could not be considered a rebellion!

"Your Highness, let me explain," Yang Shiqi said, seeing the bewildered look on Crown Prince Zhu Zhanji's face.

"Please speak, Grand Secretary Yang!" Seeing that someone could finally explain things clearly, Zhu Zhanji was eager to know what exactly was going on.

"Your Highness, when Emperor Taizong was alive, he bestowed upon the Crown Prince of Han an entire ocean-going fleet, just like Zheng He's fleet on his voyages to the Western Ocean," Yang Shiqi began, explaining the origin of the matter. However, Yang Shiqi's words reminded Zhu Zhanji of something, and his expression became serious.

"Continue!" Zhu Zhanji thought to himself, wondering where his grandfather, the Yongle Emperor, would hide those rolls of white cloth, and subconsciously urged Yang Shiqi to continue.

"Then there was the matter of an expedition to the grasslands, followed by the death of Emperor Taizong. This matter was resolutely put on hold, but because Emperor Taizong had issued an edict. Although progress was slow, no one dared to stop it." Yang Shiqi told Zhu Zhanji that this matter could not be stopped, because it was something that Emperor Taizong had issued an edict for. Stopping it would be disobeying Emperor Taizong and denying the legitimacy of Emperor Hongxi!
"Before the Crown Prince of Han went to his fief, he met with the Emperor, who personally promised that the matter would be settled without any problems. Soon after, the Crown Prince of Han went to his fief." Yang Shiqi told Zhu Zhanji that not only his grandfather, but also his father had personally agreed to the matter of the court building ships for the Crown Prince of Han.

Hearing this, Zhu Zhanji was still a little confused. His grandfather and father had promised to give it to him, so why was he now making a fuss about going to war? Had the court not given it to him?
"Didn't the court give him a boat?" Zhu Zhanji asked, looking at the three Yangs with serious expressions.

(End of this chapter)