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

Chapter 438 Imperial Noble Consort Mu

"But, Junior Tutor, Korea was a place that Emperor Taizu Gaozu personally designated as not to be conquered back then~?" The young Emperor Zhengtong Zhu Qizhen still didn't quite understand why the Dragon Kingdom would still wage war against Korea, which was clearly a place that his ancestors had designated as not to be conquered.

"Your Majesty, not only Korea, but also Ryukyu, Zhenla, Annam and other places were all designated as indisputable territories by Emperor Taizu Gao! But now, haven't those places all become prefectures and counties of the Dragon Kingdom!"

This time, Emperor Longwu personally ordered the conquest of Korea. After the Long Kingdom conquers Korea, the spoils will be distributed among the Long Kingdom's princes.

"Only then will Korea truly be a land beyond the reach of the Dragon Kingdom!" Yang Shiqi carefully instructed Emperor Zhu Qizhen once again, explaining that the so-called "land beyond the reach of the Dragon Kingdom" was determined by the powerful. Only after all those places were incorporated into their own territory would they truly be lands beyond the reach of the Dragon Kingdom!
"This...!" Upon hearing Yang Shiqi's unusual explanation, the young Emperor Zhengtong stared at him in utter disbelief! Having always received a traditional royal education, he was only now realizing... So, the so-called "unconquered lands" could be understood in this way?!
"Mother, should we send a letter to Second Aunt to inquire about the situation?" After hearing Yang Shiqi's explanation, Empress Dowager Sun was at a loss for what to do. Immediately, Empress Dowager Sun turned her attention to Grand Empress Dowager Zhang and asked if they should send a letter to the Dragon Kingdom to inquire about the current situation of Empress Dowager Wei, who was far away there.

It was precisely because Empress Dowager Sun knew that her mother, Zhang, and her second aunt, Wei, were exchanging letters that she asked such a question.

"Grand Secretary Yang, is there really no chance to mediate a ceasefire this time?" After hearing her daughter-in-law Sun's words, Empress Dowager Zhang merely glanced at her, seemingly not taking Sun's words to heart at all. Then, Empress Dowager Zhang turned her gaze to Yang Shiqi in front of her.

"Replying to the Empress Dowager."

If the Ryukyu king is not dead, then there is still room for maneuver.

However, the Ryukyu king died directly in Korea, poisoned by a conspiracy between Korea and Ryukyu rebels.

"There is absolutely no chance of success in this matter right now!" Yang Shiqi replied firmly to the question posed by Empress Dowager Zhang.

In reality, Yang Shiqi was very clear that although the Dragon Kingdom would not clash with the Ming Dynasty in the short term, when it came to conflicts of interest, the Dragon Kingdom would absolutely not heed any of the Ming Dynasty's opinions!
Especially now that the Ryukyu King has died in Korea, it has directly given Emperor Longwu the opportunity and excuse to take action against Korea! If he fails to seize this opportunity that has fallen from the sky, Yang Shiqi might even suspect that Emperor Longwu has a bigger plan in mind!
"Let's follow the Cabinet's advice on this matter!"

After all, the Zhu family has lost a son, and he cannot have died in vain! After carefully examining Yang Shiqi's serious and earnest face, Empress Dowager Zhang set the final tone for the matter!

The reason why Empress Dowager Zhang was willing to listen to the cabinet's advice is very simple!
Because Empress Dowager Zhang knew from her husband Emperor Renzong's dying words that her second son's eldest nephew was very capable! Extremely capable!
At the same time, Empress Dowager Zhang also learned from her son before his death that her father-in-law, the Yongle Emperor, had also wanted to pass the throne to his second son, the Prince of Han, or rather, his son, the current Longwu Emperor!
The Empress Dowager Zhang had absolutely no desire to have any conflict with the person whom three emperors treated with such seriousness! Not even a little bit!

Moreover, Empress Dowager Zhang personally witnessed the edict signed by the three deceased emperors of the Ming Dynasty: Emperor Taizong, Emperor Renzong, and Emperor Xuande!

Therefore, Empress Dowager Zhang knew perfectly well that her nephew, who had established the Dragon Kingdom in a distant land, must possess an extraordinary trump card! Moreover, this trump card was capable of making three consecutive emperors of the Ming Dynasty tremble! This must be a trump card that could turn the Ming court upside down and turn the tide in times of crisis!

Therefore, at this moment, Empress Dowager Zhang did not want to cause trouble with the Dragon Kingdom over a matter concerning a vassal state!

After all, it was all for the Ming Dynasty!
Seeing that Empress Dowager Zhang had already set the tone for the matter, Empress Dowager Sun opened her mouth, but then swallowed the words that were about to come out. In truth, Empress Dowager Sun was well aware of the terrifying power of the Dragon Kingdom. After all, she had assisted in governing the court for many years; how could she not understand the Dragon Kingdom's formidable nature!
However, precisely because she knew of the Dragon Kingdom's formidable power and influence, Empress Dowager Sun wanted to test the Cabinet's attitude! Although Empress Dowager Sun didn't know exactly what had happened, she was certain that whenever the Dragon Kingdom was involved, the Cabinet and even the military would become extremely serious. This matter was certainly not just a simple matter of the two countries being brotherly nations!

Therefore, Empress Dowager Sun had always wanted to find out the secret! She wanted to clear away any potential obstacles that might arise in her son's future rule of the court!
Unfortunately, there are some things that she, the Empress Dowager, will never know!

Furthermore, some of Empress Dowager Sun's subtle actions had already aroused the dissatisfaction of Grand Empress Dowager Zhang, as well as the court officials. Rumors were circulating privately that Empress Dowager Sun was a wicked empress who had brought ruin to the country. Only because the legitimate emperor was still young did they continue to tolerate her!

Soon, news that the Ming Dynasty was unwilling to send troops to aid Korea was relayed back to Korea through Korean envoys.

Immediately, a chorus of wails erupted in the North Korean court!
North Korea was well aware that they alone could not withstand the terrifying military might of the Dragon Kingdom! After all, even a single prince of the Dragon Kingdom was enough to rival North Korea! Now that the Dragon Kingdom's army was attacking, North Korea simply could not stop them!
Meanwhile, just before the first and second Royal Navys of the Dragon Kingdom set sail, the Second Grand Secretary Mu Sheng sent a formal invitation to the inner palace to pay his respects to Imperial Noble Consort Mu Ping'er and Noble Consort Mu Ke'er.

"Uncle, does His Majesty really intend for Hao'er and Hui'er to be enfeoffed in Korea, having you personally oversee the expedition to Korea?" In the Yikun Palace of the capital city of Longdu, Imperial Concubine Mu Ping'er and her elder sister Mu Ke'er were staring nervously at their Uncle Mu Sheng, the head of the Mu family, sitting opposite them, and asked anxiously.

"Your Highness, as His Majesty wishes, this is indeed the case!" Mu Sheng, with his white hair and beard, replied earnestly to Imperial Noble Consort Mu Ping'er.

"Uncle, this is not the time for formalities. Please speak frankly!" Seeing Mu Sheng's respectful demeanor, Mu Ping'er said urgently to him. After all, Imperial Noble Consort Mu Ping'er's son, Zhu Qihao, was already eighteen years old, exceeding the age for being granted a princely title! The reason he remained in Longdu was because Imperial Noble Consort Mu Ping'er harbored ambitions for her son to inherit the throne!

This resulted in the second son, Zhu Qihao, not being able to be granted the title of prince and take up his fiefdom, and the third son, Zhu Qihui, also not being able to be granted the title of prince and take up his fiefdom in time! The matter of granting the title of prince to both sons was thus delayed! Mu Sheng was very clear about this!
"Your Majesties~"
Hao'er and Hui'er are almost eighteen years old, but because of the two empresses' obstruction, they are still not engaged! But His Highness the First Prince already has a son!
This scene is so similar to the ten-year hiatus in the Emperor's reign when the First Prince held absolute power! Isn't this also a reflection of the Emperor's dissatisfaction with his two sons?
Moreover, Hao'er and Hui'er's control over the alligator dragon is far inferior to that of the First Prince.

The alligator dragon is the foundation of our Dragon Kingdom! It will also be one of the key factors in the future succession to the throne!

Although the two empresses are favored by the emperor, the time for the two princes to be granted the title of king has been delayed.

However, Your Highnesses should not forget that if the Second Prince and the Third Prince are not granted the title of King, it is not appropriate for the other princes to be granted the title of King either!
Those two are blocking the way for the other brothers!

Not all princes wanted to compete for the throne!
With the death of the Ryukyu King, the Emperor took this opportunity to enfeoff both princes to the Joseon Kingdom, thus clearing a path for the other princes.

Furthermore, the Emperor promised the two princes that they could freely explore the Jurchen territories outside the Ming Dynasty.

This can be considered compensation for that ten-year hiatus. Mu Sheng, being an old and shrewd man, naturally guessed the reason why Emperor Longwu had enfeoffed his two grandsons to Korea.

(End of this chapter)