Daming: Internship also counts as work experience

Chapter 115 Has the King of Han gone mad?

Zhu Gaoxu was preoccupied with Jia Chuan, but Jia Chuan was preoccupied with the Prince of Zhao.

Originally, Jia Chuan was just resentful but helpless, since the other party was surnamed Zhu. However, he had been fighting with Zhu Gaochi in recent days, and he even dared to deal with the Prince of Han, so why couldn't he deal with the Prince of Zhao? It wasn't like he was going to take his life, just venting his anger.

He had this idea when he first went to the gate of the Prince of Han's mansion to deliver the body, and it had been on his mind ever since. He talked about it with the seriously injured Gao Yunduo that day, and the idea became stronger and stronger. He wondered if Zhu Zhanji would have a chance to agree if he did a decent job on this mission and made this request.

He wasn't sure. After all, Prince Zhao, Zhu Gaosui, was a member of the royal family, and now he had obediently admitted defeat. Would Zhu Zhanji allow him to humiliate Prince Zhao and stand up for those at the bottom?
Therefore, he needed Hou Tai to give him some advice. Hou Tai must have some status in the palace. In addition to understanding Zhu Zhanji, he also understands the internal situation of the royal family. However, it was a bit inappropriate for Jia Chuan to make such a request so soon after meeting him. But he didn't know when he would have another chance to talk to Hou Tai alone. What use would it be if it was at the time of leaving?

……

When the group returned to the house, Wu Bing had everything arranged and even prepared a feast.

All of them had attendants with them, especially Liu Mian, who, in addition to those who needed to stay close to him, also brought more than a dozen Imperial Guards. Wu Bing tidied up the few empty houses outside the mansion, bought a lot of things, and made them look quite presentable. When the original residents come back to live here and see these things, they will probably be overjoyed.

These places were given to the guards of the group.

Jia Chuan had long admired Wu Bing's abilities. Thinking that he might be ennobled as a marquis in the future, Jia Chuan was happy for Wu Bing. He felt that it was a bit unreasonable to order a marquis around, but for now, all the capable people in the mansion were Wu Bing's subordinates, so he could only do so for the time being.

Jia Chuan privately inquired about Wu Bing's arrangements for Gao Yunduo and Dong Yuanyuan, only to learn that Lian Yuyan, Shunzi, and Old Zheng had all moved away. Because Gao Yunduo was injured, Doctor Deng also went there. In this way, they were able to settle down in the house.

Wu Bing knew that Jia Chuan missed Gao Yunduo, and even emphasized that the carriage was lined with thick brocade quilts when he left, and that the place he moved to had warm walls and was more comfortable than here.

For various reasons, there wasn't much firewood or coal left in the house. Gao Yunduo was injured, so there was a charcoal brazier and a hand warmer in the house. The others had been relying on thick brocade quilts and extra-thick Taoist robes to keep warm these days.

Wu Bing also relayed Gao Yunduo's instructions: "She said you shouldn't go to see them unless you have to. Going there will only cause them trouble."

Jia Chuan coughed lightly and asked, "Are there enough people left over there?"

"Don't worry, we'll definitely have enough manpower. I'm thinking of having Gao Yuntian and Chen Mo stay over tonight, and then come pick you up in the morning. Now that you have these Buddhas accompanying you, I don't think the Prince's Mansion will dare to do anything..."

"Let them stay there. I still have you. Once we leave the house, I'll try my best not to leave them."

Wu Bing nodded; Jia Chuan's trust made him feel at ease.

……

Because so many important figures had come to the mansion, Wu Bing's men became bolder, going in and out and buying a lot of things they wouldn't normally dare to buy, making every room in the mansion warm.

That evening, Wu Bing arranged a mutton hot pot, which warmed everyone up. The group, weary from their journey, finished their meal and went to bed early.

Gao Yuntian and Chen Mo went to Gao Yunduo's place.

Jia Chuan suddenly felt very lonely, as if everyone around him had left him all at once.

Jia Chuan and Liu Mian lived in the main house in the front yard. Liu Mian was already snoring loudly. Jia Chuan couldn't sleep, so he put on a cotton robe and quietly opened the door to go out. The cold wind outside was biting, and Jia Chuan shrank his neck and wandered around the yard.

"Can't sleep?"

Jia Chuan looked up and saw that Wu Bing had also come out of the room wearing a cotton robe.

"Yeah, they've always been by my side, and it's a little hard to adjust to them all leaving so suddenly."

Wu Bing smiled and said, "Come sit here for a while. It's too cold outside; it's already starting to freeze."

Jia Chuan followed Wu Bing into the side room.

"Shall I go get some wine?"

Jia Chuan waved his hand: "No, drinking will delay things. I'll go back to sleep after we talk for a while."

What is troubling you?

Wu Bing lit a lamp and sat down at the table with Jia Chuan.

"It's not that I'm worried, it's just that I don't know what to do next, and I feel uneasy."

Wu Bing smiled and asked, "Are you worried that the King of Han will back down and stop coveting the throne, focusing instead on your life?"

Jia Chuan had never thought of that before. He frowned and asked, "Why do I sound like I'm more important than the throne?"

"Don't worry, the Emperor allowed the Prince of Zhao to back down when things got tough, but he won't allow the Prince of Han to do the same."

Even if His Majesty allows it, the Prince of Han wouldn't, would he?

Wu Bing nodded and said, "The uncle and nephew understand each other, but there are still some things that need to be done. So when Hou Tai comes, what needs to be said still needs to be said, so as not to delay what needs to be done."

“I am worried that if Hou Tai goes to see the King of Han, the King of Han will kill him in a fit of anger.”

"The King of Han might kill you in a fit of anger, but he wouldn't dare kill Hou Tai in a fit of anger. You're worrying about this for nothing."

Jia Chuan straightened his back: "Where am I lacking?"

“Their identities are different. Hou Tai is here to deliver a message, representing the Emperor. Killing him is no different from rebelling. No matter how volatile the Prince of Han is, he still has some sense of proportion.”

After Wu Bing finished speaking, he looked at Jia Chuan and said, "The King of Han has his eye on you. Even if you leave Le'an, as long as he is still alive, he will still be the King of Han. You will have to worry about your life every day."

Jia Chuan snorted and said, "Then I won't leave."

"Not leaving? If he's planning a rebellion, you'll be the first one he kills, Lin Wei will be second, and this house won't be able to hold him back."

Jia Chuan looked at Wu Bing probingly and said, "Speak your mind! Haven't we built up this much trust between us these past few days?"

Wu Bing thought for a moment and said, "If we want to force him to rebel, it will be difficult without revealing the manor."

"Expand and tell me."

Wu Bing thought for a moment and said, "The Prince of Han has a life-saving charm, which was left by Emperor Jianwen. Back then, Emperor Jianwen was in a hurry to reduce the power of the princes, and the methods he used on the princes in various places cannot be used by the Emperor. Otherwise, Emperor Taizong would have... Therefore, unless the Prince of Han knows that the evidence of his rebellion will be exposed immediately, he will have no way to defend himself and will have no choice but to start an uprising immediately."

Jia Chuan knew that Zhu Zhanji wanted Zhu Gaoxu to rebel unreasonably, not to rebel out of necessity. If that were the case, would his grandfather, the only emperor in history with an English name, have acted right or wrong? He, the grandson, would have to provide an answer. Jia Chuan pondered for a moment and said, "You mean, no matter how many times I cause him trouble in Le'an, and no matter what the officials did or said this time, as long as the Prince of Han stands tall and acts recklessly, the Emperor can't do anything about it? But wouldn't that delay his grand plan of rebellion? The more it's delayed, the more anxious he'll become, and the more anxious he'll become, the more he'll want to kill me. If this continues, either I'll die, or he'll go mad. If he goes mad, he'll rebel recklessly. So, we can get the job done without touching the estate."

“Killing you…wouldn’t drive the King of Han mad, but you,” Wu Bing pointed to the door, “after they leave, you’ll be powerless to cause any more trouble, only able to save your own life.”

Jia Chuan shrugged and said, "No matter where you are, as long as I'm alive, the Prince of Han's heart is with me. If I don't die, he'll go crazy and the rebellion will be delayed. Perhaps one opportunity will make him act rashly and rebel. I'm also helping the Emperor complete his mission in a roundabout way."

Wu Bing seemed to want to say something more, but he just pursed his lips and nodded.

……

The next day, a large group of people went to the prefectural government office.

Qian Xun cooperated well and arranged the grain transport in an orderly manner. In the afternoon, seeing the grain transport convoy leave, Zeng Xiang did not stay any longer and also left in his carriage.

Liu Mian hadn't expected that the King of Han would be so cooperative with the matter of reducing the number of guards, without any intention of delaying.

Since you're not going to drag it out, then I'll have to.

Liu Mian avoided meeting the commander of the guards of the Prince of Han's residence, only ordering his men to accept the list, refusing to come forward for a detailed discussion.

Hou Tai thought he would have to make several more trips to see the King of Han, but he didn't expect to see him today.

Zhu Gaoxu, dressed in a formal imperial robe, with a knee-covering, a wide belt, and a jade pendant, received Hou Tai in a very formal manner.

Hou Tai performed a deep bow, which Zhu Gaoxu, seated in the main seat, accepted. He then asked, "Does Your Majesty have anything to say? Do I need anything...?"

Zhu Gaoxu drew out a long note.

"Your Highness is still ill, so this servant will report back. His Majesty also has a few words to say to Your Highness."

"Okay, you say."

"The Emperor said that since ascending the throne, he often thinks of his childhood..."

Zhu Gaoxu snorted coldly.

Hou Tai cleared his throat: "Thinking back to the days of the northern expedition with Emperor Taizong, His Majesty said that Emperor Taizong's strategies were unmatched. Since he chose the late emperor to succeed him, it must have been after much consideration. Your Highness has always been resentful, and His Majesty knows this..."

"Know nothing!" Zhu Gaoxu stood up abruptly: "Where were they during the Jingnan Rebellion? Without my help, would we be where we are today? In the Battle of Baigou River, my father was almost caught by Zhai Neng, a fierce general of the Southern Army. If I hadn't personally led several thousand elite cavalry to rescue him in time and killed Zhai Neng and his son, what would have become of our family?! Then in the Battle of Dongchang, General Zhang Yu died in battle, and my father was surrounded again. I rushed there and risked my life to save him. After that, in the Battle of Puzikou, my father was defeated, and I led troops to his aid. Do you know what my father said to me?"

Zhu Gaoxu lost control of his emotions, and the veins on his face bulged.

"The world only remembers 'May the descendants prosper forever,' a dream that no one knew about when my father was alive, which became the reason for them to sit on the throne. And what about me? What about all the things my father said to me?!"

Zhu Gaoxu roared.

"My father listened to slander and put me in this wretched place. My elder brother treats me like a three-year-old fool, giving me gold and silver today and increasing my annual salary tomorrow. Now this nephew of mine is talking to me about ancestral rules! If we really talked about ancestral rules, would my father have been able to sit on the throne?!"

Hou Tai knew what kind of person the King of Han was, but he didn't expect him to be so blunt.

"Your Highness, be careful what you say!"

"Why should I be careful with my words? What did I say wrong?"

"Your Highness, things have come to this point, why not follow the example of the Prince of Zhao..."

"Come, come, come with me."

Zhu Gaoxu pulled Hou Tai along and strode out of the room.

……

Hou Tai never expected that Zhu Gaoxu would take him to the Prince's armory.

Hou Tai was so frightened that his legs trembled. He couldn't understand how Zhu Gaoxu could be so reckless.

"Do you think having these is enough to dominate the world?" Zhu Gaoxu asked Hou Tai smugly.

How could Hou Tai possibly know more about these things?
Zhu Gaoxu then said, “Go back and tell your master to arrest those treacherous officials who framed me and send them to me for punishment. You know Jia Chuan; you stayed at his place last night. Send him here first, and then send all those who spoke ill of me to my father as well. Then I will sit down with your master and have a good talk to see if I should follow the example of my useless third brother or my father!”

After saying this, Zhu Gaoxu turned and walked away. After taking a few steps, he turned back and said, "Tell your master not to be so petty. He thinks he can just accuse me of a few crimes and scare me to death. Does he want peace in the world and to be a wise ruler? He'll have to ask me if I'm willing first!"

Hou Tai caught up with Zhu Gaoxu and bowed, saying, "Your Highness, please reconsider! What would Emperor Taizong think if he knew this in the afterlife?"

"What do I care what he thinks? Did he ever think about what I think when he was alive?" Zhu Gaoxu, with a "what's done is done" attitude, chuckled sinisterly, "I know what my father said to my nephew before he died: his hands must not be stained with my blood, but my father didn't make me promise not to shed his blood! Tell your master, there's no need to investigate anymore, let those people go back, give me the person I want, and I'll sit down and talk to him. If he doesn't give it to me, then wait for me to go to the capital to find him!"

"Has the Prince gone mad?!" Hou Tai was so shocked that he had completely forgotten his place in the hierarchy.

"Yes, I'm crazy. Why would I still be acting? Does he want to be like Jianwen? Sending officials to watch me, to watch me commit suicide? My father pretended to be crazy back then, living in a pigsty and eating pig feed. Did Jianwen let him off the hook? He wants me to be tolerant? No way! He's trying to force me, isn't he? Think about what you just saw! My father didn't have this many guys back then, but I do!"

Zhu Gaoxu took two steps forward, then turned back with a wicked grin and said, "If you hadn't come, I really wouldn't have said that my nephew forced me. Now that you've given me leverage, why wouldn't I use it? I learned this from Jia Chuan. Go back and tell Jia Chuan that I'm determined to take his life!"

……

Zhu Gaoxu's madness not only panicked Hou Tai, but also threw Wang Bin and his men into a panic.

Zhu Gaoxu hadn't given them a heads-up, and upon meeting Hou Tai, he immediately began his performance. After Hou Tai left, everyone gathered in Zhu Gaoxu's study, and not one of them was anything but deathly pale.

Zhu Gaoxu was quite pleased with himself. He changed into casual clothes, leaned lazily against the couch, and listened to the people in the room talking amongst themselves with his eyes half-closed. He didn't dare to complain directly, so he could only talk about the consequences.

It all boils down to those few sentences: 'We're not fully prepared yet; if we tear things apart now, we'll face difficulties in the future.'

'In this way, the capital will surely be prepared in advance, making it difficult to win over anyone.'

'If I had known this would happen, I wouldn't have let them take the grain. It will be difficult to stockpile grain again in the future.'

(End of this chapter)