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

Chapter 437 Inheritance and Fiefdom 2
To be honest, Zhu Gaochi really liked this eldest grandson. He was kind, honest, filial, knowledgeable in military affairs, and decisive. It could be said that, in Zhu Gaochi's eyes, this eldest grandson was the best heir to the Dragon Kingdom.

However, the only thing that Zhu Gaochi was dissatisfied with was that this eldest grandson could not perfectly inherit all the true dragon blood of his son, Emperor Longwu!
Zhu Gaoxu didn't know if his son would really be gone one day, and whether his grandson, whose bloodline was not pure, would be able to continue to ride the dragon!
Furthermore, can the descendants of the grandson continue to maintain their bloodline, even if he currently controls the alligator dragon? What if one day, the descendants of the Dragon Kingdom cannot even control the alligator dragon?

Although Zhu Gaoxu knew that his eldest grandson Zhu Qiyu was now the best at controlling the alligator dragon among the second-generation princes of the Dragon Kingdom!

However, Zhu Gaoxu was worried that if the fourth generation onwards, his bloodline of the Dragon Kingdom would no longer be able to control the alligator dragon. What would he do then?

Countless nights, Zhu Gaoxu prayed in the main temple for his ancestors to bless the smooth continuation of the true dragon bloodline!

Even more so, Zhu Gaochi angrily questioned the heavens countless times: Why is it that no one can fully inherit his son's true dragon bloodline! How unjust the heavens are!

To this end, Zhu Gaoxu even had Empress Dowager Wei constantly remind her daughter-in-law Xia that she must ensure the continuation of her son, the Longwu Emperor's bloodline!
Although Zhu Gaochi was well aware that his daughter-in-law, Lady Xia, had done an excellent job in ensuring the continuation of the royal lineage, truly keeping the bloodline of his son, Emperor Longwu, unbroken, to this day, none of the second-generation princes of the entire Long Kingdom's royal family had a son who could inherit the profound and true dragon bloodline of his son, Emperor Longwu!
Heaven has been so unfair to Zhu Gaoxu! Countless times, filled with grief and indignation, Zhu Gaoxu roared angrily in his heart, "Heaven is so unjust!"

On the Dragon Kingdom's side, with Emperor Longwu's order, the Dragon Kingdom's massive war machine began to operate frantically. Countless armor, swords, provisions, and soldiers were being transported at a frantic pace, rushing towards a new war.

After all, the vast empire of the Dragon Kingdom was a nation that began with war and aimed to divide its spoils. At this moment, countless people frantically poured into the various recruitment stations, preparing for a new round of desperate struggle for themselves, for their offspring, for their families, and for their land.
Meanwhile, a letter pleading for help from Korea was delivered to the Ming court by the panicked Korean envoy!

In an instant, the Ming Dynasty's court was in an uproar!
In the fourth year of the Zhengtong reign, a letter of appeal from the Joseon Kingdom stirred up the once quiet court of the Ming Dynasty once again!

After the morning court session of the Ming Dynasty ended, Empress Dowager Zhang, Empress Dowager Sun, Emperor Zhengtong Zhu Qizhen, and the three cabinet members Yang Shiqi, Yang Rong, and Yang Pu discussed countermeasures in the Qianqing Palace, where Emperor Zhengtong resided, in response to the letter of appeal for aid from the Joseon Kingdom.

"Your Majesty the Empress Dowager, Your Majesty the Emperor~"
Regarding the matter of Korea's request for assistance, I believe the court should reserve its opinion! Looking at the completely silent Qianqing Palace, it was finally Yang Shiqi, an old man in his seventies, who spoke first, breaking the tranquility of the palace.

"Grand Tutor Yang, Korea is a vassal state of our Great Ming Dynasty!" Upon hearing Yang Shiqi's words, the young Emperor Zhengtong, Zhu Qizhen, said with a resentful expression. At this moment, in the fourth year of Zhengtong's reign, the young Emperor Zhengtong, Zhu Qizhen, was only thirteen years old! He had not yet begun to rule the vast and gradually decaying Ming Dynasty!

As the Emperor finished speaking, both Empress Dowager Zhang and Empress Dowager Sun turned their gazes to Yang Shiqi. Clearly, they were also waiting for his explanation!

"Your Majesty, Empress Dowager, Empress Dowager."

The Dragon Kingdom is a brother kingdom of my Great Ming Dynasty! King Zhu Zhanqi of Ryukyu is also a member of the imperial family of my Great Ming Dynasty.

This time, the King of Ryukyu died in Korea.

"From both a moral and logical standpoint, our Great Ming Dynasty should at least not interfere in this matter." At this moment, Yang Shiqi of the Cabinet clearly meant that the Dragon Kingdom and the Great Ming Dynasty were brother countries, and their relationship was even closer than that of the vassal state of Korea! Moreover, Zhu Zhanqi, according to seniority, was a nominal member of the imperial family of the Great Ming Dynasty.

Now that King Zhu Zhanqi of Ryukyu has died in battle in Korea, even if our Great Ming Dynasty doesn't help, we can't hold back the Dragon Kingdom! We don't want to damage the friendship between the two countries! In reality, Yang Shiqi had absolutely no intention of offending Emperor Zhu Zhanhe of the Dragon Kingdom!
However, it is clear that not everyone in the Ming Dynasty shared the same thoughts as Yang Shiqi.

"Grand Secretary Yang, is there any way to mediate this situation?" After a brief silence, Empress Dowager Sun turned to look at Grand Empress Dowager Zhang and asked calmly, looking at Yang Shiqi's serious face.

"Your Majesty, this matter has reached a point where it cannot be resolved."

The Ryukyu king died in Korea, poisoned by a conspiracy orchestrated by rebel forces in Korea and Japan!
Emperor Longwu has already issued a declaration of war against the Joseon Kingdom.

"Now, especially from the Dragon Kingdom, they will absolutely not compromise!" After listening to Empress Dowager Sun's words, Yang Shiqi gently shook his head and explained to her with a serious expression.

"What about compensation?" However, Sun was clearly still unwilling to give up and asked Yang Shiqi again.

After hearing Empress Dowager Sun's words, Yang Shiqi was noticeably silent for a moment.

"Your Majesty, no matter how much compensation the Korean state can offer, can that compensation compare to the allure of the entire Korean state?" Yang Shiqi remained silent for a moment after hearing Empress Dowager Sun's words, then shook his head with a sigh.

"Zhanhe's target is Korea?!?" At this moment, Empress Dowager Zhang finally spoke. Her weathered and somewhat weak face was filled with astonishment as she looked at Yang Shiqi and asked.

"Replying to the Empress Dowager."

"I believe that Emperor Longwu's goal this time is the entire Joseon Kingdom!" Yang Shiqi replied earnestly, looking at the Grand Empress Dowager Zhang's weathered face.

"Why?!" At this moment, Emperor Zhu Qizhen, seated in the center of the Qianqing Palace, asked Yang Shiqi with a puzzled expression. In Zhu Qizhen's mind, Korea was an exclave of the Dragon Kingdom, not bordering it at all. Even if the Dragon Kingdom occupied Korea, it wouldn't be of much use!
Clearly, Emperor Zhu Qizhen was too young and had no idea of ​​the other uses of the enclave!

"Your Majesty."

Although the Dragon Kingdom has not established a crown prince, its empress's eldest son, Prince Zhu Qiyu, has been involved in politics for many years and has already given birth to children.

Moreover, Emperor Longwu granted this prince all the privileges of a crown prince, except for the title of crown prince!
Therefore, according to my speculation, the position of Crown Prince of the Dragon Kingdom will most likely be passed on to this Prince Zhu Qiyu!
Currently, Imperial Noble Consort Mu, along with her two sons, the Second Prince Zhu Qihao and the Third Prince Zhu Qihui, have come of age. The maternal family of these two princes is the Mu family, the Second Grand Secretary of the Imperial Cabinet!
The Mu family was originally a top noble family in the Great Ming Dynasty! Now, after Emperor Longwu established the country, the Mu family has two top concubines in the harem, the Imperial Noble Consort and the Noble Consort. Both of them have given birth to children for Emperor Longwu. Therefore, the Mu family can be said to be even more noble in the Long Kingdom!

However, judging from the situation, the Second Prince and the Third Prince of the Dragon Kingdom have no chance of inheriting the throne, as they are far inferior to the First Prince!
Based on this calculation, and considering Emperor Longwu's past character, he must have enfeoffed his nine younger brothers to various regions before establishing the dynasty. Those fiefdoms were truly astonishing!

Now, the second prince Zhu Qihao, born to the Imperial Noble Consort, and the third prince Zhu Qihui, born to the Imperial Noble Consort, are about to come of age.

If Emperor Longwu wanted to grant fiefdoms to these two princes, the present moment in Korea would be the perfect opportunity!

Moreover, Korea could extend into the neighboring Jurchen tribes, perfectly meeting His Majesty Emperor Longwu's desire to continue expanding outwards.

Therefore, I make this guess!
This time, it seems Emperor Longwu will be granting the land of Korea as a fiefdom to his two sons, the Second and Third Princes of the Dragon Kingdom! Looking at the still-naive Emperor Zhengtong, Yang Shiqi meticulously and carefully explained the situation, making sure the Emperor understood completely!
(End of this chapter)