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

Chapter 388 Winter of the Ninth Year of Xuande
Winter of the ninth year of the Xuande reign of the Ming Dynasty, at the Qianqing Palace in Beijing.

On this day, Emperor Xuande, Zhu Zhanji, summoned Yang Shiqi, the Grand Secretary of the Cabinet.

"Grand Secretary Yang~"
By now, I'm sure you three in the cabinet have all seen my recent medical records.

"Now, what are your thoughts?" Emperor Xuande, Zhu Zhanji, leaned against the main seat in the Qianqing Palace, his plain white robe highlighting his deathly pale face. Anyone with discerning eyes could see that this Emperor Xuande of the Ming Dynasty, sitting on the high platform, was likely terminally ill and his days were numbered!

"Your Majesty."

The imperial physician said that His Majesty's health was not good, and he had already prescribed a good remedy for him. He asked His Majesty to rest assured and recuperate, as there was nothing to worry about. In response to the question from Emperor Xuande, Zhu Zhanji, Yang Shiqi, whose body was somewhat hunched, couldn't help but twitch his white beard. He looked at Emperor Xuande on the high platform with a pained expression and softly comforted him.

"Your Excellency Yang, there's no need to comfort me."

"I know my own health condition!" Hearing Yang Shiqi's comforting words, a dim light appeared in the Xuande Emperor's eyes. After all, he was in his prime! His young son was still a minor! Who would want to die?! But things had come to this, and the Xuande Emperor was helpless.
"Grand Secretary Yang, I just want to ask about that secret that has been hidden for ten years."

"Now that things have come to this, I can finally know, right?" Emperor Xuande, Zhu Zhanji, spoke with a weak voice. But at this moment, his gaze towards Yang Shiqi was filled with unwavering authority.

Now, in an environment where he could die at any moment, the Xuande Emperor only wanted to make arrangements for his own affairs after his death!

After hearing Emperor Xuande's words and seeing his pale face, Yang Shiqi couldn't help but feel a chill run down his spine.

"emperor!
"Your Majesty, I, Yang Shiqi, humbly request that Your Majesty summon Prince Zhu Zhanhe of Han!" After hearing Emperor Xuande's words, Yang Shiqi knew that Emperor Xuande was truly on his deathbed, clinging to life by a single breath! And the secret that had been hidden for more than ten years was now ready to be revealed to Emperor Xuande! Therefore, Yang Shiqi no longer hesitated and directly requested that Emperor Xuande summon Prince Zhu Zhanhe of Han!
"Approved!" Upon hearing Yang Shiqi's words, the Xuande Emperor knew that the time had come for him to learn the secret hidden for ten years!

But for some reason, Emperor Xuande, Zhu Zhanji, had a bad feeling after hearing that the Prince of Han had been summoned! Could it be that he really would lead his army to attack Beijing?! Emperor Xuande began to speculate about his premonition. After all, neighboring Korea had repeatedly appealed to the court for help, saying that they were being attacked by the Daimyo army stationed in Japan, and that they had already occupied half of their territory!

Although he harbored some uneasy suspicions, the Xuande Emperor had no choice; his health was truly failing! He needed to find out that terrible secret as soon as possible! Then eliminate any potential threats! And quickly choose his successor to the throne!

Although the Xuande Emperor had dispatched countless Imperial Guards to gather intelligence over the years, he simply did not believe the reports they relayed, such as the claim that the Prince of Han possessed a true dragon. Even though each group of Imperial Guards reported similar things, the Xuande Emperor refused to believe them! He was unwilling to believe them, and moreover, he could not believe them!
"Your subject takes his leave!" Seeing the resolute yet pale face of Emperor Xuande, revealing a weak and thoughtful expression, Yang Shiqi bowed and silently withdrew.

At this moment, the pale-faced Xuande Emperor Zhu Zhanji watched Yang Shiqi's departing figure, his eyes filled with solemnity and resentment.
Meanwhile, in the Han Prince's Palace in Yunnan.

Prince Zhu Zhanhe of Han has held the title of Prince of Han for many years.

Furthermore, over the years, Zhu Zhanhe ordered the officials of the Prince's Palace to continuously expand outwards! He even personally led troops into battle to fight enemies and conquer new territories on numerous occasions!
By now, the Han Prince's expansion efforts have yielded significant results. Even with his younger siblings, Zhu Zhanhe has fulfilled his promises!
In the second year of the Xuande reign, Zhu Zhanhe expanded into Japan and enfeoffed his second younger brother, Zhu Zhanqi, to establish a fiefdom there. In the same year, Zhu Zhanhe married his younger sister, Princess Yushu, to the Mu family and enfeoffed Jeju Island as part of her dowry.
In the third year of the Xuande reign, Zhu Zhanhe expanded the Malacca Islands and enfeoffed his third brother Zhu Zhanyi and Lü Song to establish their own fiefdoms. In the same year, Zhu Zhanhe married his younger sister, Princess Yuxuan, to a scholar from Yunnan and enfeoffed XSQD as her dowry.
Between the fourth and ninth years of the Xuande reign, Zhu Zhanhe continued to expand outwards, successively enfeoffing his fourth brother Zhu Zhanyu, fifth brother Zhu Zhanxin, sixth brother Zhu Zhanyi, seventh brother Zhu Zhanping, and eighth brother Zhu Zhantao. Moreover, the locations he enfeoffed them were all near islands between the Indochina Peninsula and the Australian continent.

Of course, Zhu Zhanhe also had two younger brothers, Zhu Zhan and Zhu Zhanyang, both under the age of fifteen. Zhu Zhanhe planned to enfeoff them in regions close to Africa and the Americas. His future plans for his brothers' offensive operations were focused on the Americas and Africa!
Meanwhile, Zhu Zhanhe's sisters were not left behind either. Zhu Yushu, Zhu Yuxuan, Zhu Yuji, Zhu Yuquan, Zhu Yuheng, and Zhu Yuyang, a total of six, had already been married off and given small islands similar to Jeju Island, also located in the surrounding areas of Indonesia.

Similarly, there was still a fourteen-year-old unmarried younger sister, Zhu Yuyao, left in the family. Zhu Zhanhe planned to enfeoff this unmarried sister, just like his other sisters, to an island near Australia.

To this day, Zhu Zhanhe can confidently say that he has basically fulfilled his obligations to his younger siblings!
Of course, his younger siblings, who had been granted fiefdoms, were also very shrewd, sending Zhu Zhanhe various kinds of gold, silver, grain, and other tributes every year. Especially from Japan, they even paid nearly five million taels of gold and silver annually! This greatly alleviated the pressure on Zhu Zhanhe's external expansion efforts.

At this moment, in the palace of the Eastern Third Palace of the Han Prince's Mansion in Yunnan, Prince Zhu Zhanhe of Han was casually leaning on a soft recliner, listening attentively to the work reports of his three cabinet ministers.

Looking at Zhu Zhanhe's languid appearance, no matter how you look at it, he doesn't seem like a noble prince who rules over a vast territory! However, the sharp glint that occasionally flashes in Zhu Zhanhe's eyes when he closes his eyes reveals that this seemingly lazy person is not to be underestimated!

To the left of Zhu Zhanhe's reclining chair, there was also a handsome and refined boy of about ten years old, who was standing respectfully.

"Your Highness, the latest news has arrived from the imperial court." At this moment, Xia Yuanji, the Grand Secretary of the Han Prince's Mansion with a white beard, spoke first.

"Grand Secretary Xia, please speak!" Seeing that the Prince of Han, who was still lying down, did not speak, the young man standing next to Zhu Zhanhe could only glance helplessly at Zhu Zhanhe, who was leaning lazily against the main seat with his eyes half-closed, before respectfully speaking to Xia Yuanji.

"Your Highness, please allow me to report. Today, I received a message from Yang Shiqi, the Grand Secretary of the Imperial Cabinet."

He advised the prince not to personally lead an expedition in the near future.

"And please, Your Highness, depart for Beijing as soon as possible, for the Emperor wishes to see you." Looking at the composed young man, Xia Yuanji respectfully cupped his hands in greeting before addressing Zhu Zhanhe, who was reclining in a chair.

Yes, the young man standing next to Zhu Zhanhe is Zhu Zhanhe's eldest son, Zhu Qiyu! After more than ten years of training, Zhu Qiyu has grown into a steady and reserved young man who is capable of assisting in government affairs.

Adhering to the principle of raising his son well, believing that it would be a waste not to use his son, and influenced by the sincere pleading of Princess Xia, Zhu Zhanhe directly brought his son to Chengyun Palace to help him with some simple daily tasks.

Zhu Zhanhe was very satisfied with this. It saved him trouble, his wife was happy, and she even gave him some extra compensation. Zhu Zhanhe was very pleased with this.

(End of this chapter)