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

Chapter 528 The Troubled Dragon Martial Emperor

"Alright, we're all on the same side, saying too much will hurt feelings. How about this, all the princes who have been enfeoffed should each contribute one million taels of silver or equivalent goods to the court!" Crown Prince Zhu Qiyu said calmly.

"One million taels?!" Upon hearing the Crown Prince's words, everyone was utterly astonished. It wasn't that Crown Prince Zhu Qiyu's offer was too high; on the contrary, the offer given to the Crown Prince was far too low!

After all, those are blueprints that can continuously produce all kinds of advanced firearms, and even include blueprints for workshops! If the blueprints were not sold, but only the various firearms, the imperial court's annual income would be more than one million taels!

After all, although the overall situation is stable now, the expansion of each vassal state has never stopped! The annual consumption is unknown!
Nowadays, the imperial court is selling the blueprints for third-generation firearms and workshops for only one million taels of silver per household?!
"What's wrong, Third Uncle? Do you think your nephew isn't asking for enough?" Seeing everyone's stunned expressions, Crown Prince Zhu Qiyu asked his Third Uncle, the King of Luzon, with a smile.

"No, no, no," the Third Prince, King Luzon, waved his hands repeatedly in rebuttal after hearing his nephew's question. After all, he was short of money too!
Hehehe~!

We're all family here. Besides, each fiefdom needs to be developed, and it's not appropriate for the imperial court to ask for too much!

Besides, our Dragon Kingdom has enfeoffed quite a few princes, each of whom contributed one million taels of silver. In fact, the imperial court has made quite a profit!

However, please don't spread this price around! Looking at the princes with incredulous expressions, Crown Prince Zhu Qiyu didn't think he was asking for too little.

After all, a fiefdom only costs one million taels of silver, so the total amount of silver given to all the princes who have been granted fiefdoms is tens of millions of taels of silver! That's almost equivalent to the Dragon Kingdom's annual tax revenue! That's quite a lot!

"My royal brother is so kind!"

"Father is merciful!" After confirming that the Crown Prince's words were true, the princes were overjoyed.

Although they didn't get the most advanced firearms, they did get blueprints for firearms far more advanced than those they currently used, as well as blueprints for workshops! And all for just one million taels of silver!

From now on, they'll be able to manufacture weapons on their own, continuously! Worth it! This price is absolutely worth it!
"Alright, alright, we're all family, no need to be so polite!"

When you all go back, take a look. If there are any difficulties in the workshop or in manufacturing firearms, send someone here to learn.

However, we must ensure the loyalty of the artisans and prevent them from being taken to foreign lands! Looking at his happy younger siblings and offspring, Emperor Longwu was also filled with joy.

After all, he only used some weapon blueprints and workshop blueprints that the imperial court had discarded, and he exchanged them for tens of millions of taels of silver! He felt it was well worth it!

"Judging from what the Crown Prince said, he might sell these blueprints to other people?!" After hearing what Crown Prince Zhu Qiyu said, the Third Prince and Prince Ning keenly noticed the abnormality. After hesitating for a moment, they couldn't help but ask.

In an instant, everyone's attention was focused on Crown Prince Zhu Qiyu.

"That's right. I believe you've also seen it, Third Brother. All those delegations from various countries are still lingering in Dragon Capital and refusing to leave."

This morning, officials from the Court of State Ceremonial had already reported several times about the foreign envoys' desire to purchase advanced weapons from the Dragon Kingdom. Regarding his younger brother's question, Crown Prince Zhu Qiyu did not conceal anything, but instead replied frankly.

"No, brother, selling this to foreign tribes isn't appropriate!" The Ryukyu King grumbled reluctantly after hearing the Crown Prince's words. After all, foreign tribes possessing advanced firearms was not a good thing for them, the princes!

"You little rascals, listen to what His Highness the Crown Prince has to say!" The Third Prince, King Luzon, was much calmer than his two nephews who were unwilling.

"Third Uncle is truly insightful!"

Indeed, there must be requirements for firearms sold to foreign tribes.

All firearms data purchased by foreign tribes are one generation lower than those of the firearms data of the various vassal states!

In other words, if each vassal state could manufacture third-generation firearms, then the firearms sold to foreign tribes could only be second-generation firearms!

Furthermore, they were only provided with simplified weapon blueprints, not workshop blueprints!

"If I were to sell it to them, the complete set of firearms would probably cost around three million taels of silver," Crown Prince Zhu Qiyu calmly stated to his somewhat impatient brothers. Upon hearing Crown Prince Zhu Qiyu's words, the princes' lips twitched; the Crown Prince's words were simply too unreliable.

"Brother Crown Prince, you're so dark-skinned!" the Second Prince, the King of Joseon, exclaimed in amazement to the Crown Prince.

"Second brother, you are mistaken. How can you call it black? Serving the country is the duty of me, the crown prince!" At this moment, Crown Prince Zhu Qiyu spoke of himself in a very noble and lofty manner.

In reality, Crown Prince Zhu Qiyu felt no remorse whatsoever for swindling money from foreign tribes!

"But, Crown Prince, do you think they'll buy it?" The Ryukyu King also felt that no foreign race would be so foolish as to buy the second-generation firearms that the Dragon Kingdom had already phased out! Besides, these were just blueprints for second-generation firearms!

Who would be the sucker for this?! The others muttered to themselves.

"Brother Li, you're mistaken about that!"

I'm absolutely certain they'll buy it!

Furthermore, most of the alien races will come to buy it!

If foreign delegations want to come and discuss purchasing firearms with me, I will have the Six Ministries meet with them one by one and talk to them individually! This will prevent them from knowing whether the other has purchased firearms blueprints!

When they leave, I will select a few more countries that have provided decent tribute this time and send them a batch of second-generation firearms.

"I refuse to believe that anyone else can sit still!" Crown Prince Zhu Qiyu had already devised a plan to control those foreign lands!

You're not buying? No problem! Your rival bought it! You still aren't buying? Well, you'd better figure it out yourself!! In this respect, the foreign tribes are completely outmaneuvered by Crown Prince Zhu Qiyu!

"Your Highness is amazing!" The magnanimous King of Ryukyu exclaimed in admiration after hearing about the Crown Prince's actions. He greatly admired the Crown Prince's wisdom!
"Alright, alright. You've finished discussing your matters today, so let me say a few words." Seeing that the matter was over, Emperor Longwu seized the opportunity to speak.

"Please instruct me, Your Majesty!"

"Please instruct me, Father Emperor!" Seeing that Emperor Longwu was about to speak, the princes present were very respectful.

"The military exercise is now over, and I believe that you princes will be leaving this capital city in the next few days."

"Before you leave, you will all go to Zhuangling together." Emperor Longwu arranged the departure itinerary for the princes.

"Yes, Your Majesty!" Everyone knew that it was proper to pay homage at Zhuangling before leaving, and they all respectfully accepted the order.

"Elder brother, go tell that seventeenth prince that if he dares to send a blond-haired guy who looks like a stray dog ​​to inherit the throne, I will abolish his fiefdom!" After finishing discussing the matter of going to Zhuangling, Emperor Longwu's expression changed, and he turned to Crown Prince Zhu Qiyu beside him with a somewhat annoyed look.

"Your Majesty, I will go and find my seventeenth brother shortly and give him a proper lesson!" Upon hearing Emperor Longwu's words, Crown Prince Zhu Qiyu quickly and respectfully accepted the order. Even the princes present tensed up, knowing that Emperor Longwu was dissatisfied with the seventeenth prince's choice of successor.

"Furthermore, we have also spoken highly of the other princes, saying that our Zhu family is the legitimate lineage of the Han people!"

If they choose one of those offspring who has green eyes, blond hair, deathly pale skin, or is as black as charcoal to inherit the throne.

Aren't they afraid they won't be able to face their ancestors after they die?!

And what about the nineteenth prince? That dark-skinned woman, as dark as a piece of charcoal, how did he even fall for her?!

Ah~! Tell me about this." Emperor Longwu was speechless. The sons he had raised and enfeoffed were meant to rule over foreign tribes, not to be assimilated by them!

(End of this chapter)