The First Prince of the Ming Dynasty

"boom!"

With a blast of black powder, a sizable crater was created in the ground.

Before the dust had even settled, the Imperial Guards rushed down into the pit to check the situation, as if each of them was eager to find a coal mine.

Tang Yin frowned and said, "What's the rush?"

Zhu Yi said with a smile, "They are all eager to make a name for themselves, so they don't usually have a proper opportunity."

The Ming Dynasty's Imperial Guards had a rigid class system, and these military households rarely had the opportunity to make meritorious contributions without risking their lives on the battlefield, so of course they were eager to step forward.

"It's a coal mine!"

"It's covered in a thick layer!"

Upon hearing the news, Qian Ning, disregarding the drizzling rain, rushed over to investigate.

Tang Yin muttered to himself again, "He's nowhere to be seen when we're working, but he comes faster than a rabbit the moment there's a commotion."

"Hehe." Zhu Yi just laughed from the side.

……

……

Two mine pits were discovered that day. Qian Ning rewarded the soldiers present and held a bonfire banquet in the mountains that evening.

Zhu Yi and Tang Yin, citing fatigue, went back to their tents to rest first.

Zang Xianben wanted to go over and curry favor with them, but Qian Ning stopped him, saying, "Perhaps they have something to do."

Zang Xian frowned, wondering what could possibly be wrong.

Aren't you afraid they're plotting something in the dark?

Inside the tent, Tang Yin finally asked the question that had been nagging at him all day: he wanted to know what Zhu Yi was really up to.

"Aren't you afraid your father will resent you for helping the emperor so much? Or do you simply not care?" Tang Yin questioned Zhu Yi from the perspective of someone who sees through the ways of the world.

Zhu Yi casually put the map he had drawn aside and said, "Do you think my life will undergo any fundamental changes in the next year or two, as long as the Ning family doesn't rebel?"

Tang Yin nodded and said, "Yes, you can't go back for the time being."

Zhu Yi laughed and said, "So, let's proceed according to the established steps."

"Didn't you say you were going to help the emperor go to the northwest? Why are you mining in the western mountains?" Tang Yin was very confused.

What he didn't understand even more was that Zhu Yi always dragged him along when doing anything.

Zhu Yi said, "First, we'll open a coal mine in Xishan, then an iron mine in Yongping Prefecture. It should be less than a month before the emperor visits Jizhou."

"What are you going to do?" Tang Yin frowned upon hearing this.

He thought to himself, "This kid really does have a scheme up his sleeve."

Zhu Yi smiled and said, "Soon, a war may break out in Jizhou. The three guards of Duoyan will lead their troops south. This war is known as the Battle of Malangu. The leader of Duoyan Guards destroyed the wall and went south. They fought against our Great Ming in Malangu. Vice General Chen Qian and Commander Tan Mao led their troops to meet the enemy, but the entire army was wiped out."

"Huh?" Tang Yin was shocked.

Shocked, he quickly asked, "What happened next?"

Zhu Yidao said: "Later, thanks to the support of Wang Zhuo, the Censor-in-Chief of Shuntian Prefecture and surrounding areas, troops were used to counterattack and drive back the cavalry of the Duoyan Guard. For this achievement, Wang Zhuo was promoted to Vice Minister of War in Nanjing. Later, the descendants of the Ba family sent envoys to pay tribute. Wang Qiong, the Minister of War, advocated severely punishing the descendants of the Ba family. The court was divided between the two factions on whether to fight or make peace. In the end, the emperor issued an edict allowing the descendants of the Ba family to pay tribute, and at the same time, the bodies of Chen Qian, Tan Mao, and others were redeemed."

Upon hearing this, Tang Yin frowned and said, "It's a disgrace to the Ming Dynasty."

Zhu Yi laughed and said, "Do you think the emperor would be willing to do that?"

Tang Yin seemed to understand something and asked, "Are you saying that His Majesty was coerced by the pro-peace ministers?"

"Otherwise what?"

Zhu Yi, with his own scheme on his face, calmly said, "So, as long as you secretly inform the Emperor about this, when he hears that the Tatars were ambushed in Malan Valley, do you think His Majesty will take the initiative to come out and fight?"

Tang Yin's eyes gleamed as he nodded, saying, "To be able to personally lead the expedition without having to cross Juyong Pass, and with even the court officials unaware of their movements beforehand, couldn't be better for His Majesty. This battle..."

Zhu Yi said, "They knew in advance the direction of the Doyan Guard's attack, and it was in a place like Malan Valley where the terrain was favorable for an ambush. If something still goes wrong, what face does His Majesty have to talk about governing the Northwest?"

"You're not just luring someone into a trap, you're luring them out. So... when do you plan for me to inform His Majesty?" Tang Yin's face also showed a smile.

Finally, he could once again play the charlatan in front of the emperor, letting the world know his abilities.

Tang Yin suddenly began to enjoy the feeling of being admired.

Zhu Yi rolled his eyes at him and said, "Addicted? Can't you wait until the right time? I'll advise you on the secret memorial. You can give it to Qian Ning and have him present it to the emperor for you."

"I understand, I understand." Tang Yin said as if he were a precocious sage. "Last time in the battle of Zhangjiakou, you helped Jiang Bin, and this time you're helping Qian Ning. You've treated everyone equally."

In Zhu Yi's view, this behavior was not because Tang Yin was particularly adept at understanding human relationships, but rather because he was exceptionally clever.

Zhu Yi said, "I simply think this will make it easier for you to submit your memorial. There won't be so many complicated procedures! Perhaps His Majesty will even recall Jiang Bin and the others to fight alongside him in the Battle of Malan Valley, who knows?"

……

……

The two were discussing something inside.

Zang Xian's voice came from outside: "Your Highness, Mr. Tang, are you both here? Is it convenient for us to talk?"

Tang Yin asked in a low voice, "What do you mean?"

Zhu Yi laughed and said, "Is it that hard to understand that I came to see you about something?"

Tang Yin said, "I mean, why did he ask if it was convenient?"

"Haha, maybe they think we're doing something shady in there? There's a banquet in front of us, but we don't go. Instead, we run into the tent and won't come out. There's only one lamp in there. Doesn't that clearly mean we're keeping some secrets?"

Zhu Yi said with a smile.

Then Zhu Yi said loudly, "Please wait a moment, Your Excellency, I'll be right out."

Tang Yin asked, "Aren't we going out right away?"

Zhu Yi ignored him and instead called out the Xiao Tang and Xiao Mei sisters, who were brewing tea behind the tent, saying, "Stidy up your clothes and come with me for a walk."

Tang Yin frowned and asked, "Why are you making them tidy up the clothes?"

Zhu Yi didn't say anything for a while before going over and opening the curtain.

Zang Xian looked up and saw Zhu Yi and Tang Yin inside, with two maids serving them. Seemingly having played the part of a clever man, he looked ashamed and said, "Did I disturb your good time?"

Zhu Yi smiled and said, "Mr. Zang, what brings you here so suddenly? Why didn't you say so earlier?"

Zang Xian sighed, "I heard from Governor Qian that you have two actors here with exceptional talent and beautiful voices who can sing moving tunes. He also mentioned Southern Opera... I would like to learn some from Your Highness. I don't have many other hobbies in my life, except that I like to collect sheet music."

Tang Yin said, "Is that so?"

Tang Yin clearly did not believe Zang Xian's statement.

Zhu Yi knew that Zang Xian was not lying.

Although Zang Xian was a close and favored minister of the emperor in history, he was also a playwright. In the twelfth year of Zhengde, he compiled a collection of plays called "New Voices of a Prosperous Age", which included many zaju plays that had been lost at that time. As a result, works such as Wang Shifu's "Tea Seller's Boat" and Bai Pu's "Red Leaves" were able to be passed down, which can be said to have left a valuable legacy for the inheritance of opera.

Of course, this person was later implicated in the rebellion of the Prince of Ning's mansion and was imprisoned while Zhu Houzhao was still alive.

To protect himself, Qian Ning framed him and then exiled him to the border. On the way to the border, he had him killed.

Don't be fooled by how close Qian Ning and Zang Xian seem now; Qian Ning is Zang Xian's future mortal enemy.

Zhu Yi laughed and said, "It's rare for Mr. Zang to have such a refined interest, so let's take them over to perform for him. It'll also be a good opportunity to strengthen our relationship."

"There's nothing to contact. Since Your Highness enjoys listening to music so much, I currently manage the Music Bureau and happen to have connections to introduce some performers to Your Highness. They are all excellent in voice, appearance, and talent. I hope they can learn a lot from you."

Zang Xian quickly used his resources to curry favor.

He initially looked down on Zhu Yi, but after discovering Qian Ning's high regard for him and witnessing the coal mines being discovered one after another, he realized that the person in front of him was not only a future prince, but also a god of wealth.

Zhu Yi said, "Mr. Tang, look how sincere Mr. Zang is! We should get to know him better in the future. Shall we move over to the campfire and have a couple of drinks?"

"I will guide you two."

Zang Xian hurriedly walked ahead, as respectfully as if he were serving the Crown Prince and Grand Tutor of the Ming Dynasty.