Zhu Di: My fourth son is a great emperor of all time?

Chapter 61 The second son actually supports the fourth son becoming emperor?
In the fourteenth year of the Yongle reign, Zhu Gaoshuo shot and killed Mahmud in the Battle of Mobei, and his fame soared from then on.

After returning to the capital, Zhu Di made a surprising decision: to remove Crown Prince Zhu Gaochi from his position as regent and appoint Zhu Gaoshuo as regent!
It should be noted that the power of the regent during the Yongle reign was immense, essentially no different from that of the emperor. The fact that Zhu Gaoshuo, an illegitimate son, was able to assume the position of regent clearly shows that Zhu Di had made up his mind!
After the news of Zhu Gaoshuo's regency came out, everyone had different opinions. The civil and military officials did not understand Zhu Di's meaning, and the ministers under the Crown Prince's faction were extremely dissatisfied with this decision.

However, a shocking scene unfolded: according to the historical records of the Ming Dynasty, Zhu Di's three legitimate sons appeared unusually happy.

The civil and military officials were indeed very dissatisfied with Zhu Gaoshuo's regency.

The civil service group led by Yang Shiqi was already stirring with activity.

If Prince Qi were to eventually ascend the throne, it would clearly be disadvantageous for them.

However, they also have a way to deal with it.

That is to make both the King of Han and the King of Qi suffer heavy losses.

In the eyes of many, the person most angered by Prince Qi's regency was probably Prince Han, Zhu Gaoxu.

After all, Zhu Gaochi was willing to go through fire and water for Zhu Di.

However, he did not receive the position of regent.

In contrast, the fourth prince, Zhu Gaoshuo, only went out to fight a battle before the emperor entrusted him with the important task of overseeing the country.

The King of Han would never agree to that.

But Tianmu actually said that both the King of Han and the King of Zhao were very happy.

Looking up, they saw that Zhu Gaoxu was not angry and even had a smile on his face.

This bizarre scene left both the princeling faction and the Han prince faction dumbfounded.

Zhu Di understood what his second and third sons meant.

The two were not genuinely congratulating the fourth prince on his regent duties.

But they're just waiting to make a fool of themselves.

But Tianmu's words also shocked Zhu Di.

So the boss was actually happy too?

He couldn't understand it.

He had anticipated the opposition from the civil and military officials.

The eldest son's behavior left Zhu Di completely baffled.

Before making the decision to appoint the fourth prince as regent, he was in immense inner turmoil.

He was afraid that his father would be dissatisfied. If he could become the Yongle Emperor, the Ming Dynasty would have achieved its current stability and prosperity, and his father, Zhu Gaochi, would have been the greatest contributor.

[I can't understand the reactions of the Prince of Han and the Prince of Zhao, but the eldest son, Zhu Gaochi, is definitely genuinely happy!]
[He can finally relinquish this heavy responsibility of regent. Moreover, the fourth prince, Zhu Gaoshuo, is a man who values ​​family ties; even after ascending the throne, he won't kill them. By ceasing regent duties, he can finally focus on recuperating.]
[It's truly a miracle that Zhu Gaochi, after relinquishing his regency, lived longer than Zhu Di due to his good health.]
[The main reason is that Zhu Gaoshuo's ancestors' abilities were evident to all, and could be said to have impressed Zhu Gaochi. If it were the Prince of Han, this crown prince would definitely not be satisfied.]
After relinquishing the heavy responsibility of regent, Zhu Gaochi indeed slept soundly and felt much more relaxed.

The reason he cried so sadly before was because of his anger at Zhu Di's distrust.

After understanding the situation, Zhu Gaochi actually came to terms with it.

Especially upon hearing that he had lived so long after stepping down as regent, Zhu Gaochi's chubby face broke into a simple, honest smile.

I thought to myself: I must eat more when I get home tonight.

"The eldest brother's lifespan has also increased significantly?"

Zhu Di glanced at Zhu Gaochi and saw the smile on his face.

In addition, I heard that the eldest brother also lived a few more years.

I was immediately filled with immense regret.

If I had known this would happen, I should have made the fourth prince a regent sooner.

That way, none of us will have to work so hard.

Zhu Di was very satisfied with this decision.

Now only Prince Zhu Gaochi of Han looked a little off.

He's not stupid either.

Gradually, it became apparent that things were developing in the direction of the fourth prince becoming regent. The old man didn't seem to be deceiving people.

It is true that the fourth prince was made regent.

"Why should I!" Zhu Gaoxu was furious, but he dared not vent his anger in front of the civil and military officials.

Would they rather pass the throne to their fourth son than to him?
The pressure on Zhu Gaoshuo, who was in charge of the country, was also immense. The Ming Dynasty had just experienced a major war, and the national treasury was already empty. However, Zhu Di was determined to continue compiling the Yongle Encyclopedia and also wanted to move the capital.

Zhu Di had long wanted to move the capital, but he had only done so in secret, fearing opposition from the public. However, after Zhu Gaoshuo became regent, Zhu Di made it public.

Zhu Di was actually the same kind of person as Zhu Yuanzhang. He valued military power above all else, and after successfully rebelling, he wanted all future emperors to be able to directly control military power.

However, the relocation of the capital was opposed by the court officials, but Zhu Gaoshuo agreed to the relocation and put him in charge.

This decision was seized upon by the ministers under the Crown Prince.

Many people began to condemn Zhu Gaoshuo, saying he was only trying to please Zhu Di, disregarding the lives of the people. Where did the money come from? It came from the national treasury, but the treasury was empty, so he had no choice but to rob the people.

Zhu Di looked at the ministers who were gritting their teeth, and felt extremely happy inside.

It doesn't matter if the national treasury is empty.

The fourth brother is rich.

When the fourth prince ascended the throne, he immediately allocated a large sum of money to fight the Japanese pirates.

We'll definitely be able to do it this time too.

As Tianmu previously stated, his relocation of the capital would be detrimental to the economic development of the Ming Dynasty.

But now he has already put the fourth prince in charge of the country ahead of schedule, and things have become completely different.

Zhu Di was eager to return to Shuntian Prefecture.

But at this moment, Xia Yuanji stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, please reconsider the matter of moving the capital."

"We should reduce taxes and corvée labor, and focus on people's livelihood!"

Zhu Di frowned and said coldly, "Who said the national treasury is empty? Didn't you hear what Tianmu said? The fourth prince has a way to get money."

"We've all heard what the Heavenly Curtain said. Does Prince Qi's Ministry of Justice intend to raise taxes? Raising taxes will only bring suffering to the people!"

Zhu Di ignored him and looked at Zhu Gaoshuo, asking solemnly, "Fourth Prince, can you handle the matter of moving the capital?"

"Father, don't worry, I'll definitely handle it well!"

Zhu Gaoshuo agreed without hesitation, already having made his own plans.

This relocation of the capital is a chance to make a fortune; how could they possibly let it pass them by?

He had actually figured it out. Now that he had become the regent, he couldn't just work for the old man for free and try to make a huge profit from it.

In the Ming Dynasty, only the emperor was poor.

"Your Majesty, even if we are to move the capital, this matter should be handled by a different person. Prince Qi is too young and may shake the foundation of the country!"

Seeing that Zhu Di remained unmoved.

Xia Yuanji became extremely anxious and quickly went to Zhu Gaochi's side: "Please, Your Highness, be able to dissuade us from this matter!"

Zhu Gaochi?
At that moment, he was already cursing under his breath.

He was unwilling to contradict Zhu Di now.

Dad is clearly angry; if he stands up now, he might get beaten to death.

Moreover, the old man was clearly determined to move the capital.

This applies regardless of whether the fourth prince is acting as regent or not.

Just as Zhu Gaochi was in a dilemma, a voice came from the sky again.

[The ancestor Zhu Gaoshuo's plan to move the capital incurred the wrath of the people, with civil and military officials rising up against him. However, at this critical moment, Prince Han Zhu Gaoxu and Prince Zhao Zhu Gaosui led their troops to arrest all the opposing ministers, and from then on, no one dared to raise any objections to moving the capital again!]

(End of this chapter)