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

Chapter 391 Winter of the Ninth Year of Xuande
"Don't worry, Prime Minister Xia, we know what's important!" Mu Sheng replied with a serious expression after hearing Xia Yuanji's words.

"Please give your orders, Lord Xia!" Compared to Mu Sheng, Huang Zhong spoke much more simply. This was because Huang Zhong had a clear understanding of his own character; he was destined to be a hard worker!

"First is the imperial edict from the prince summoning the rebel army to dig a great river. This matter should be immediately communicated to the entire army to begin preparations;"
Secondly, the construction of palaces, government offices, and local infrastructure in India must be accelerated across the board! Especially the ignorant populace in India! The process of clearing out and reforming them must be expedited!

Finally, in the name of the Cabinet, inform the entire territory under the jurisdiction of the Prince's Mansion of the Prince's preparations for ascending the throne! Xia Yuanji stared at his two old friends who had known each other for many years and said earnestly.

"Construction is no problem! We have more than enough food supplies right now, and I will prioritize ensuring they are used for construction in Sindhu." Huang Zhong knew exactly what his mission was, so his answer was very firm!
"Everything else is fine, but if all else fails, have the Iron-Faced General take all those ignorant people away to dig the canal! Only leave behind suitable people!"
Then relocate some more people from various parts of the Prince's Palace there!
"Furthermore, temporarily assign all the wounded and disabled soldiers to India, and organize another army-wide marriage!" Compared to Xia Yuanji's subtlety, Mu Sheng's words were infinitely cruel! Mu Sheng also knew that the situation in India was extremely dire. Therefore, in order to speed up the construction progress, Mu Sheng suggested sending all the unsuitable civilians in India to dig the canal! Only young and marriageable women would be left to marry soldiers in the army!
"It's settled then!"

Lord Huang, contact the ocean-going caravans again and do everything you can to transport the necessary supplies and personnel to India!

"I will personally travel to Sindhu soon to work with General Iron Face on the construction!" Xia Yuanji added after the general direction and basic situation were largely finalized. Furthermore, Xia Yuanji directly agreed to Mu Sheng's cruel demands regarding the people of Sindhu. Finally, still not entirely at ease, Xia Yuanji insisted on personally going to Sindhu to oversee the situation!

After all, Zhu Zhanhe also had the task of expanding the river transport! Xia Yuanji had gone to great lengths for his son-in-law's awakening!
the other side.

"father,

Are you serious?
Are you really going to declare yourself emperor?
"And also in India?!?!" After Xia Yuanji and the others left, Zhu Qiyu remained stunned, his voice trembling as he asked his father. After all, this news was simply too shocking! If his father really became emperor, wouldn't he be the future crown prince?!?

At this moment, Zhu Qiyu’s father, who had been like a god in his heart since childhood, was now like a heavenly emperor about to rule the world, his majestic body seemingly filling the entire universe!
"This matter is just a statement for now, and it still needs a lot of time to figure it out."

Yu'er, don't worry. Your task now is still to continue learning from the civil and military officials.

"In a few days, you will go to India to study military strategy with your Iron-Faced Grandpa again." Zhu Zhanhe didn't give a clear answer to his son's question, instead speaking somewhat vaguely. Zhu Zhanhe didn't want his son to get involved in those complicated matters too early. In Zhu Zhanhe's view, his son's main task now was to diligently study various literary and martial arts knowledge!
Upon hearing Zhu Zhanhe's words, Zhu Qiyu was visibly taken aback. After a moment, having calmed his emotions, he nodded in agreement with his father. Then, Zhu Qiyu spoke again.

"Father, Second Uncle and the others have sent over New Year's gifts. Here is the list of gifts, please take a look." Zhu Qiyu then took out a document from his pocket and respectfully handed it to Zhu Zhanhe.

"Is there anything different from previous years?" Zhu Zhanhe didn't even bother to look at the gift list his son handed him. He lay back lazily on the recliner and asked his son about the contents.

"Nothing is different from previous years."

My uncles and aunts all brought some rare treasures and precious medicinal herbs.

However, this year my second uncle sent more gold and silver than last year, totaling six million taels.
Uncle Ba also sent a gift for the first time this year;
"Aunt Yuyang is sending a gift for the first time this year." Zhu Qiyu held the folded document in his hand and kept reporting to Zhu Zhanhe about the New Year's gifts sent by his uncles and aunts. Zhu Qiyu talked on and on for a long time before finally giving a brief account of the gifts sent by his uncles and aunts.

Zhu Zhanhe listened silently to his son's report, especially at the end when he heard that the gifts his younger siblings had brought totaled thirty million taels of gold and silver. He nodded silently. After all, his years of nurturing his younger siblings were finally beginning to bear fruit!
"Is there anything else?" Seeing that his son still seemed hesitant after speaking, Zhu Zhanhe knew that his son had something to say to him, so he asked his son directly.

"Dad~!"

These past few days, my third and fourth brothers have been asking me why I can't take them with me to visit Uncle Wei.

"I don't know how to handle this for a moment." Faced with his father's question, Zhu Qiyu lowered his head, looking slightly guilty, but in the end, he replied somewhat embarrassedly.

"Oh~~.

"What are your thoughts on this, Yu'er?" Zhu Zhanhe was startled by his son's answer. He knew that his son's question wasn't simply about taking his younger brothers to visit Uncle Wei. It involved the issue of his other sons meeting the Dragon King! It concerned the succession to the Prince's mansion!

Especially now that he had just finished talking about his intention to ascend the throne, his son's question seemed particularly jarring!

Therefore, Zhu Zhanhe did not immediately reply to his son, but instead put the question back to Zhu Qiyu himself. Because Zhu Zhanhe wanted to hear his son's true thoughts!

The third and fourth brothers that Zhu Qiyu mentioned were the sons of Mu Ping'er and Mu Ke'er. Speaking of sons, Zhu Zhanhe was young and vigorous; in recent years, it could be said that a son was born every year! Yes, you heard right, a son was born every year! The second son born to Princess Xia was a son! The Mu sisters also had sons! And the concubine Ruan from Annam also had a son!
Even in places like India, Nan Zhang, Brunei, and Java, the concubines and mistresses all gave birth to sons! To date, Zhu Zhanhe has more than a dozen sons! But not a single daughter has been born!

This greatly angered Zhu Zhanhe. He vowed to continue his efforts and make sure he had a daughter!
Zhu Zhanhe frowned involuntarily. For a moment, the atmosphere in the room became somewhat oppressive.

"Dad~"
This~~
"I don't know!" Faced with Zhu Zhanhe's question, ten-year-old Zhu Qiyu seemed conflicted, unsure of what to do. After all, he had come to ask his father for help, but now his father had thrown the question back at him. At the same time, Zhu Qiyu also sensed the oppressive atmosphere in the room; he knew that his father was somewhat dissatisfied.

After all, there was the allure of the throne on one hand, and brotherly affection on the other. The young Zhu Qiyu found it difficult to discern the truth. He knew in his heart that if his younger brothers gained the Emperor's approval, they might very well seize the throne!
"Yu'er, don't be nervous. I'm about to head to Beijing. Think about it yourself first, and tell me your answer when I return." After hearing his son's reply, Zhu Zhanhe looked at his son's conflicted face.

To be honest, Zhu Zhanhe was slightly disappointed with his son's answer. After all, he hoped his son would be broad-minded.

(End of this chapter)