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

Chapter 420 The Death of the Xuande Emperor (Part 2)
After all, Zhu Zhanhe was very clear in his heart that although the magical place of Sindhu had fertile land, complete rivers, various metal deposits, spices and other resources, it was not bad.

But! The people in that godforsaken place have always been toxic! They're a notorious bunch of scum who urinate and defecate anywhere!
Therefore, after much deliberation, Zhu Zhanhe decided to wait until the Longjiang River (their mother river, which was renamed Longjiang) was completely repaired before starting preparations for establishing the country!
After all, the renovation of Longjiang will take several years no matter what! This also gives local officials a few years to continue to improve and manage the area! Otherwise, by the time the founding of the People's Republic of China is approaching, the land will still be full of excrement. Zhu Zhanhe said that he couldn't stand that kind of situation!
Even Zhu Zhanhe's children and wives couldn't stand it! And of course, Zhu Zhanhe's elderly mother couldn't accept it at all!

Originally, because Xia Yuanji was away on a business trip, the court officials, led by Mu Sheng, were planning to continue to have a good discussion with their prince about the matter of him becoming emperor as soon as possible.

However, the sudden death of the Xuande Emperor interrupted the conversation that everyone was having to offer advice to.

Furthermore, seeing that this unexpected turn of events had led their own prince to seize the opportunity to directly reject the idea of ​​temporarily declaring himself emperor, it's fair to say that for a time, all the subordinate officials were filled with resentment!
In reality, the officials in Chengyun Hall, who were the backbone of the Han Prince's mansion, also understood their prince's concerns.

After all, through the constant exchange of information, the vassals also knew that although India was a fertile land with abundant food, it had nurtured a group of uncivilized savages! They had completely ruined that fertile land!

The root of all this is those ignorant barbarians from beyond the borders! It seems we still need to thoroughly exterminate those barbarians! For a moment, all the officials in the Chengyun Hall had cold glints in their eyes. They utterly despised those people from the land of Sindhu who were hindering their progress!
Among them, the one with the strongest opinion was Mu Sheng, the representative of the military! At this moment, Mu Sheng was already thinking about how to write a letter to Xia Yuanji and the Iron-Faced General as soon as possible, urging them to continue the comprehensive eradication of the poisonous insects in the Sindhu region and to accelerate the construction work in the Sindhu region once again!

The sudden news of Emperor Xuande's death indirectly saved Zhu Zhanhe from the fervent urging of his courtiers to be crowned emperor. Taking advantage of this opportunity, Zhu Zhanhe directly rejected the courtiers' suggestions, began arranging Emperor Xuande's funeral, and then fled.

After all, with the emperor's death, the regional princes were required to travel to the capital for the funeral. However, Zhu Zhanhe knew that his Prince of Han's residence would not be invited to the capital for the emperor's funeral. Therefore, Zhu Zhanhe only needed to make a token gesture.

"In the name of the Prince's Palace, issue an edict informing the people of the three prefectures to observe a month of mourning for the Emperor!" Zhu Zhanhe directly ordered the people of the three prefectures under his jurisdiction to observe a month of mourning. Those three prefectures naturally refer to Yunnan, Guangdong, and Guangxi! As for other places? Sorry, Zhu Zhanhe indicated that those places had nothing to do with the imperial court!
After saying this, Zhu Zhanhe ran away as fast as he could to avoid being nagged by the court officials.

"Court adjourned!" As soon as Xiao Xizi saw his master run away, he quickly announced the adjournment of the court and then hurriedly followed his prince's departing footsteps.

"Your subjects will obey the imperial decree!" Seeing that their prince had already run away, the court officials who were still preparing to persuade him could only helplessly respond to Zhu Zhanhe's retreating figure.

Then, the officials of the Prince of Han's residence slowly dispersed from the Chengyun Hall.

"Lord Huang Zhong, please expedite the relocation of officials, trainees, and civilians from Sindhu, as well as the local development work!"
It seems that the transformation of India is still not thorough enough!

"We still need to thoroughly renovate that future capital city from the inside out!" After leaving the Chengyun Hall, Mu Sheng, with his white hair and beard, slowed his pace, narrowed his dangerously cold eyes, and said to Huang Zhong, who was traveling with him, with a chilling expression.

"Rest assured, Lord Mu, this humble official knows what to do!" At this moment, Huang Zhong's words were filled with endless chill! After all, they were still nominally subjects of the Prince's Palace! But if the Prince were to establish a kingdom in the future, they would become subjects of the entire nation!
The difference in their social status is immense, as one can imagine! Moreover, after the establishment of the nation, their rights will be far greater than they are now!

Huang Zhong's rise from humble beginnings to his current high position is entirely due to the contributions of the Prince of Han's mansion! Therefore, Huang Zhong is eager to push his benefactor forward one more step!
"Rest assured, Your Excellencies! Officials from the Ministry of Rites, the Ministry of Personnel, the Ministry of Revenue, and other six ministries will continue to refine the Imperial Edict and all related proclamations and procedures for the sacrificial rites to Heaven and Earth!"

"And we won't hold His Highness back!" While Mu Sheng and Huang Zhong were talking, the six chief officials of the six departments of the Han Prince's Mansion who were following behind them took the opportunity to offer their heartfelt thanks!
It must be said that the officials of the Prince of Han's mansion were truly united in their efforts to hasten Zhu Zhanhe's ascension to the throne! Meanwhile, after Zhu Zhanhe left the Chengyun Hall, he went directly to his mother, Lady Wei.

"Mother!" As soon as he entered the door, Zhu Zhanhe saw his wife, Xia, and his concubine, Mu, accompanying his mother. Moreover, Zhu Zhanhe noticed that his mother, Wei, had red eyes, clearly indicating that she was not in a good mood. Immediately, Zhu Zhanji stepped forward to greet his mother, Wei.

"He'er's here~, come and sit down." Seeing her son arrive, Madam Wei, with tears in her eyes, asked him to get up.

"Greetings to Your Highness!" As Zhu Zhanhe entered, Madam Xia and Madam Mu quickly stood up and respectfully bowed to him.

"Hmm~!" Zhu Zhanhe responded softly to his two wives and then sat down next to his mother, Madam Wei.

"Why is Mother crying?" Zhu Zhanhe asked with concern as he looked at his mother, Madam Wei, whose eyes were red and swollen.

"He'er, although in the past my relationship with the Empress Dowager was just so-so, and because of your father's struggle for the throne, there was some estrangement between us sisters-in-law, overall, there are no major conflicts between us sisters-in-law."

"But for some reason, when your Aunt Xiuer came in just now and said that Zhanji had passed away, I couldn't help but feel sad for the Empress Dowager." Consort Wei held her son's hand and softly explained the reason for her grief.

Or rather, at this moment, Consort Wei was grieving for Empress Dowager Zhang!

In Zhu Zhanhe's view, perhaps at this moment, Consort Wei had completely empathized with Empress Dowager Zhang's deep sorrow.

After all, Empress Dowager Zhang rose from the position of Crown Prince's wife to her current position! Even when she was still the Crown Prince's wife, she took over the management of the inner palace! She is the most noble and powerful woman in the world!
But such power was earned through repeated sorrow!

Empress Dowager Zhang first personally saw off her mother-in-law, Empress Renxiao Xu!
Then, she personally saw off her father-in-law, the Yongle Emperor!

A year later, she personally saw her husband, Emperor Renzong, off to his death!
Now, this noble yet pitiful woman has personally sent her son, the Xuande Emperor, to his death!
It can be said that, apart from the time she went from being a palace maid to becoming the Crown Prince's wife, every other time Zhang Shi's status was elevated, it was only with the passing of a loved one! That feeling of desolation and misery was something that ordinary people could not compare to or endure!
Perhaps at this moment, Consort Wei had completely empathized with her pitiful sister-in-law, Empress Dowager Zhang!

No, it should be said that it was Empress Dowager Zhang!

Because the son of the Xuande Emperor is about to ascend the throne!
(End of this chapter)