Zhu Yuanzhang Returns from Modern Times

Chapter 273 He was so tormented by Zhu Yuanzhang that he vomited blood.

"Your subject, Hu Weiyong, pays his respects to Your Majesty and inquires about Your Majesty's well-being."

Inside the Wuying Hall, Hu Weiyong respectfully bowed to Zhu Yuanzhang.

"Someone, bring a seat for Prime Minister Hu."

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded and greeted him.

Immediately, someone brought over a brocade stool for Hu Weiyong to sit on.

After expressing his gratitude, Hu Weiyong sat down.

Actually, there was a chair not far from Zhu Yuanzhang.

Zhu Yuanzhang did not have anyone bring the chair for Hu Weiyong to sit on.

The eunuchs were also very perceptive and did not move the chair for Hu Weiyong to sit on.

Because they all knew that this chair was reserved by their emperor for the crown prince.

Only His Highness the Crown Prince or His Majesty the Empress are allowed to sit; others are not qualified.

"Prime Minister Hu, you've requested a private audience with us. Is there something you wish to discuss?"

Zhu Yuanzhang looked at Hu Weiyong and spoke.

That's obviously a rhetorical question.

He was naturally aware that Hu Weiyong's son had died.

Hu Weiyong's arrival at this time must be related to the death of his son.

"Your Majesty, I would like to request that Your Majesty postpone the land survey in Jiangxi."

Hu Weiyong didn't stand on ceremony and directly stated his thoughts.

Zhu Yuanzhang was stunned for a moment upon hearing this, seemingly surprised and taken aback.

"Why did Prime Minister Hu suddenly say such a thing?"
This land survey in Jiangxi is a national policy that is currently being implemented.

Morale must be boosted, not dampened.

Isn't that what they mean by "one effort, then a decline, then exhaustion"?
The land survey in Jiangxi is progressing well, and they've already cracked the tough nut of Longhu Mountain.

If we stop now, how long will we have to stop?
Next, we'll have to go to Jiangxi to do the land survey, and things will take a turn for the worse, potentially ruining this excellent situation.

Hu Weiyong looked at the emperor sitting on the dragon throne, pretending to be confused with a straight face.

He simply refused to believe that the emperor wouldn't know what was going on.

The Embroidered Uniform Guard he established was established in vain!
At a time like this, wouldn't they send the Embroidered Uniform Guard over there?
As Zhu Yuanzhang employed the Embroidered Uniform Guard to handle affairs, especially in numerous important cases, their performance was particularly outstanding.

This made the Embroidered Uniform Guard famous.

Many people know that the emperor has started to establish secret agents again.

Moreover, it's even stronger than before.

But by this time, few court officials had said much about the matter.

After all, things were different now than when the country was founded. After being emperor for more than ten years, the emperor was obviously much harder to fool than when he first became emperor.

Once the Embroidered Uniform Guard was established, it would be very difficult to abolish it.

Of course, this is also related to the fact that some time ago, someone submitted a memorial impeaching the Embroidered Uniform Guard, openly and secretly wanting the emperor to abolish the Embroidered Uniform Guard, or even if not abolish it, to severely restrain it. The emperor did not agree, so that's fine.

The key point is that not long after, a lot of evidence was found against the person who submitted the petition, and he was subsequently dismissed from his post and beheaded.

After the last incident, no one submitted another memorial impeaching the Embroidered Uniform Guard or anything like that.

Even if he knew all this, he would have to play along if the emperor pretended to be confused.

He then said, "I was promoted because of a major incident in Jiangxi. My son was killed there."

A murderer's life is one of land surveying.

"Huh? Is that so?!"

Zhu Yuanzhang was greatly surprised upon hearing this, as if he had just learned the news.

"Prime Minister Hu, shouldn't your son be staying in the capital?"
How did it end up in Jiangxi?

Why not stay in the capital? Why run so far away?

Upon hearing Zhu Yuanzhang's words, Hu Weiyong suddenly felt as if he wanted to vomit blood.

He wanted to rush forward, grab Zhu Yuanzhang by the collar, and punch him mercilessly!

Are these words spoken by a human being? Are these things done by a human being?
My son was murdered in Jiangxi!

Her only son was murdered!

This damned emperor, upon learning this news, his first reaction wasn't to care about himself or to stand up for his son, but rather to ask why his son had to go to Jiangxi!
So, he's implying that his son was the one who was wronged because his son was harmed by people from Jiangxi?
That beastly emperor!

"Your Majesty, I feel that my son is not young anymore. It is not right for him to just stay by his parents' side. He will not amount to much. Therefore, I want him to go out and see the world."

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded upon hearing this.

"Minister Hu, your idea is correct."

As parents, we should let go and let him explore and experience more.

It's true that it's difficult to achieve success if someone just stays by your side.

There's a saying that goes, "You can't train a thoroughbred horse in a courtyard, and you can't grow a towering pine tree in a flowerpot."

Look at our fourth son, we feel very comfortable letting him go out and do things.

Look at what our fourth son has done, isn't it excellent?

How many major problems have they helped us solve? How many calamities have they helped our Ming Dynasty avert?

Our fourth son has truly matured and can now stand on his own.

Hu Weiyong felt like vomiting blood again as he listened to Zhu Yuanzhang's words.

I just felt that Zhu Yuanzhang was a terrible person.

What does this thing mean by saying these things?
Isn't he just praising his son and saying his own son isn't good enough?

His fourth son, Zhu, went through many trials and tribulations after leaving home, but he only grew stronger with each experience and managed to get things done.

His own son went to Jiangxi, did nothing, and lost his life.

That bastard Zhu Yuanzhang, he practically wore his mockery on his face!
Hu Weiyong felt his blood rushing to his head.

"Minister Hu, what were you thinking? Why did you have to send your son to Jiangxi?"

We know that when we go to survey the land, things will definitely be chaotic and messy in Jiangxi.

Many people who don't want their land to be surveyed are ruthless and might take desperate measures.

A wise man does not stand under a crumbling wall. Prime Minister Hu has always been intelligent; how could he have made such a foolish mistake with his own son in this matter, insisting on doing it this way?

Zhu Yuanzhang continued to stab Hu Weiyong in the back.

Hearing Zhu Yuanzhang's words, Hu Weiyong's heart was bleeding.

It was as if someone was holding a knife, cutting his heart piece by piece.

At the same time, there is also an endless sense of suffocation.

"Your Majesty, my son went to Jiangxi first."

The land survey only began later.

"Oh, I see."

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded: "Minister Hu, you still did something wrong."

The land survey in Jiangxi is bound to cause a lot of trouble, so why don't you hurry up and call your son back and stop him from staying in Jiangxi?

Why did I make such a mistake on this very issue?
If it were me, I would have called my son back immediately.

Hu Weiyong's fist, which was tucked into his sleeve, clenched involuntarily.

I was filled with hatred for him, and at the same time, I was so heartbroken that I could hardly breathe.

Because what Zhu Yuanzhang said was precisely what he deeply regretted.

He has been consumed by intense self-blame since last night.

If it were him, and he hadn't sent his son to Jiangxi, and if he had listened to his wife and found his son sooner, then his son Tianci wouldn't have died.

He had been blaming himself for this.

Hearing Zhu Yuanzhang say this at this moment made him even more upset.

He increasingly felt that Zhu Yuanzhang was inhuman, deliberately stabbing him in the back and trying to kill him.

Rubbing salt into your own wound!
"Your Excellency, this matter must be taken very seriously. Even my son over there suffered such a terrible accident and was treated like this."
The land survey in Jiangxi was fraught with problems, as one can imagine.

I dare not even imagine how many illegal and disorderly acts might be hidden behind this land survey.

How many people have had this experience?

Therefore, I request Your Majesty to postpone the land survey in Jiangxi.

I also have my own selfish motives; I want to find out the truth and get justice for my son.
At the same time, it also helped to make the land survey in Jiangxi more standardized and regulated.

The purpose of the land survey by the higher authorities was to benefit the many people of the Ming Dynasty.

But now that those people have actually gone to survey the fields, they've caused so much trouble.

If they are not restrained, many things will go against our wishes and fail to live up to His Majesty's expectations and entrustment to them.

The death of my son is a minor matter, but the most important thing is to learn from this experience and prevent more tragedies from happening to more people in the future.

One family weeping is better than ten thousand families weeping.

Hu Weiyong tried to calm himself down, his eyes filled with tears, and looked at Zhu Yuanzhang before speaking.

He was exceptionally sincere.

"Minister Hu, what you said is both right and wrong."

I understand Prime Minister Hu's feelings, and I feel sorry for him.

However, Hu Xiang could not suddenly become resentful and hate everything about the land survey just because his son died.

It seems unlikely that your son was the one who carried out the land survey.

We have repeatedly warned Wu Yin and others.

When they go there to survey the fields, they are not allowed to kill innocent people except those who oppose the government's policies.

How audacious and unwise must they have been to kill your son, Prime Minister Hu?
Moreover, your son has absolutely no connection with the land survey in Jiangxi.

This matter is very strange and is definitely not as simple as it seems on the surface.

This is what those who illegally occupy large amounts of land, who are unwilling to have their land surveyed and taxes paid to the court, and who fantasize about exploiting the people as before, are doing.

It was used to frame the imperial court and smear the land survey.

We're going to drag you, the prime minister, into this mess and make you work yourself to the bone in this matter.

This would disrupt the court's policies and sow discord between us, the emperor and his subjects!
Hu Xiang, you are a smart man.

You can spot these underhanded tricks.

You must not fall for these people's tricks.

They fell for their treacherous scheme.

If that's the case, then Prime Minister Hu's son died in vain.

Not only did you die in vain, but Hu Xiang also had to help the murderers who killed your son, and be used as their pawns.

This is so frustrating to think about.

Hu Xiang's son, even in the afterlife, will find it hard to rest in peace.

Zhu Yuanzhang spoke very sincerely.

At least on the surface, they seem very sincere.

“Your Majesty, I…I request to go to Jiangxi and personally bring my son back.”

He saw his son one last time.

And we must thoroughly investigate who did this!

If what Your Majesty says is true, and some people in Jiangxi are so heartless as to use such methods on my son, I will fight them to the death!

And this will facilitate the land survey in Jiangxi!

Zhu Yuanzhang shook his head: "Minister Hu loves his son dearly, and losing him in middle age must be incredibly painful. We can understand why you are so grief-stricken."
But we cannot agree to this.
Wang Guangyang is incompetent; this deputy prime minister is becoming increasingly ineffective.

There are many things to do in the court. Without Prime Minister Hu here to guard and help with the work, we can't rest easy.

The imperial court cannot do without Prime Minister Hu, but the people from Jiangxi have done such a thing, even killing Prime Minister Hu's son.

We absolutely cannot tolerate this!

If we sit idly by and do nothing, wouldn't that chill Prime Minister Hu's heart?

We have decided to send the Minister of Personnel over there to thoroughly investigate this case.

Let's get to the bottom of this!

Let's see who this person is, so reckless as to do such a thing.

If those responsible for the land survey act recklessly in this matter, we will not tolerate it and will punish them severely.

If it were someone else, bold and reckless, daring to secretly plot against the imperial court's land survey, they would be in trouble.

We will absolutely not tolerate this!

They will be punished as they deserve.

Regardless of the circumstances, we must seek justice for Hu Xiang's son.

"You can rest assured about this matter, Prime Minister Hu."

Hu Weiyong pleaded again to go in person, but Zhu Yuanzhang simply wouldn't listen.

After a cordial and friendly conversation, Hu Weiyong took his leave.

Watching Hu Weiyong's departing figure, Zhu Yuanzhang smiled.

It was truly unexpected that Hu Tianci would die in Jiangxi.

There was no need for investigation; he was certain that this was a desperate struggle made by some people in Jiangxi in a state of utter depravity.

They wanted to completely implicate Hu Weiyong in order to obstruct the land survey.

After all, based on what he knew, the death of Hu Weiyong's son was indeed quite suspicious.

Most importantly, the man who killed Hu Weiyong's son was killed on the spot by a carriage.

This makes it even more of a coincidence.

The information from the Embroidered Uniform Guard also indicated that roads would not be closed during the land survey.

It will not affect people's normal travel.

Only in the few days before Hu Tianci's death were roads closed in a few scattered places during the land survey.

This is too obvious.

There must be some people causing trouble in there.
In his past life, Liu Lian was killed by those people.

He adjusted his strategy himself and didn't let Liu Lian go.

They immediately unleashed Wu Yin, their trump card, and deployed a full complement of troops.

Under these circumstances, these people did not dare to make a move against Wu Yin and his group.

Instead, they killed Hu Weiyong's son.

It was truly a big surprise.

Hu Weiyong's son deserved his fate; he was nothing but a beast.

It would be better if he were dead.

But to die here at this moment would be quite ingenious.

If I refuse Hu Weiyong's requests today, Hu Weiyong will probably go crazy, right?

(End of this chapter)