The Ming Dynasty: A Modern Return, Building an Overseas Empire

Zhu Di was in a real headache.

It's a good thing that Zhu Gaoxu has suddenly come to his senses and stopped fighting for something, for some reason.

But Zhu Di just couldn't be happy.

If Zhu Gaochi hadn't left the Ming Dynasty to find a small island overseas as his fiefdom, he wouldn't have had this headache.

On the contrary, he would even make amends to Zhu Gaoxu.

Over the years, Zhu Di himself knew exactly how many empty promises he made to Zhu Gaoxu, and how many practical things Zhu Gaoxu had done for him.

Despite Zhu Gaoxu's penchant for causing trouble, when it comes to real problems, a combination of coaxing and intimidation will get Zhu Gaoxu handling things perfectly.

Finally, it could leave him with leverage to deal with Zhu Gaoxu and bring him down.

He already felt somewhat indebted to Zhu Gaoxu, and now that Zhu Gaoxu had voluntarily stepped down, allowing him to stop worrying about the future, how could he not be happy?

But when Zhu Gaochi went to sea, the significance was completely different.

He had no reason to exile his own son overseas. No matter how heartless he was, he could only do the bare minimum. He simply couldn't bring himself to exile him.

As for the claim that he went overseas to recuperate, it was all a lie to Zhu Gaochi, and Zhu Di would never believe it.

Zhu Di had already considered it in his mind: none of the islands surrounding the Ming Dynasty could compare to the Ming Dynasty.

Not to mention comparing it to the Ming Dynasty, if you pick a provincial administration commissioner from the north or south of the Ming Dynasty, none of the other places can compare.

Not only in terms of population, economy, size, technology, education, etc., but more importantly, geographical location, it was impossible for Zhu Gaoxu to develop.

At best, as Zhu Gaoxu said, he could barely protect himself.

This self-preservation was still due to the fact that Zhu Zhanji was overseas. No matter how much he couldn't tolerate Zhu Gaoxu, he couldn't possibly send troops to fight him.

Otherwise, Zhu Zhanji would have been completely ruined.

But he really didn't want to let Zhu Gaoxu go.

Besides these reasons, he was also worried that he would have no means to retaliate against Zhu Gaochi's future actions.

Once Zhu Gaoxu leaves, it means that Zhu Gaochi's position is completely secure.

Zhu Gaochi now enjoys considerable support from civil officials, and he knows perfectly well who supports him in both the court and the local areas.

After Zhu Gaochi left, and given his advancing age, it was inevitable that Wu Xun would side with Zhu Gaochi.

Zhu Di did not want his power to be too restricted by Zhu Gaochi in his old age.

In addition, Zhu Gaochi's health was failing. If one day Zhu Gaochi didn't want to wait any longer and came to Xuanwu Gate again in the Ming Dynasty, he would not be able to accept it, regardless of victory or defeat.

And the obstacles he faces in doing what he wants to do will be even greater.

These were the problems Zhu Gaochi would face after leaving, and they were also a major headache for Zhu Di.

Suddenly, Zhu Di inexplicably began to feel some anger towards Zhu Gaoxu.

Why can't this person be like Zhu Gaosui?

I've already figured it out, so why can't I just behave myself? Why can't I listen to him a little more?

But now Zhu Gaoxu is stubborn and won't listen to reason. No matter how much we try to persuade him, he's determined to go to sea.

He just couldn't understand it. He was still alive, so why was Zhu Gaoxu in such a hurry?

Or were Zhu Gaochi and Zhu Zhanji really that scary?

Thinking about these things, Zhu Di unconsciously thought of Zhu Gaochi and Zhu Zhanji.

Zhu Gaoxu watched Zhu Di quietly, waiting.

As time slowly passed, Zhu Di remained silent, simply staring at him, making him feel uneasy.

Zhu Gaoxu was also puzzled. Was this matter really so difficult to sort out?

In his memory, Zhu Di was not an indecisive person.

Zhu Di was always decisive and swift in everything he did.

The father and son fell silent for a moment.

Just then, the door was pushed open again.

Zhu Gaoxu and Zhu Di looked over at the same time and saw Zhu Gaochi walking over in a hurry.

"Father, I'm here."

"Second son, you're here too. Have you apologized to your father?"

Zhu Gaochi originally came to plead for Zhu Gaoxu, so he wasn't too surprised to see Zhu Gaoxu there.

I'm just wondering why Zhu Gaoxu figured it out so quickly this time, or what.

Zhu Gaoxu watched Zhu Gaochi walk in like this, and then thought about how the eunuchs outside dared to stop him when he wanted to come in.

Stop thinking about it; some things just can't stand being thought about.

Just as Zhu Gaoxu was about to speak, Zhu Di's deep voice came first.

"Admit your mistake? How could the dignified Prince of Han admit his mistake to an old man like me? How could I dare to make him admit his mistake?"

Zhu Gaoxu felt a toothache as he listened to Zhu Di slander him without batting an eye.

He wanted to expose them, but considering that he needed Zhu Di's approval to go out and take up his fief, he ultimately held back.

Now he has a deeper understanding of Zhu Di's shamelessness.

But then Zhu Gaoxu thought about it again and laughed.

Zhu Di's words clearly indicated that he was preparing to set a trap for Zhu Gaochi.

Since he could no longer expect a reply regarding his departure to his fiefdom, he was still quite happy to be able to watch the play.

Most people have almost no resistance to watching plays.

After all, they have an innate love for joining in the fun.

Seeing that Zhu Gaoxu remained silent, Zhu Di breathed a sigh of relief and became even more satisfied with him.

When Zhu Gaoxu wasn't causing trouble, he was actually quite well-liked by him.

Zhu Gaochi looked at the somewhat angry Zhu Di, then at Zhu Gaoxu, a slight smile playing on his lips.

His second brother is really good at causing trouble.

Stopping thinking about it, he looked at Zhu Di again, cupped his hands in preparation to plead for Zhu Gaoxu, when Zhu Di's words came again.

"Boss, you've come at the right time. Tell me, the Prince of Han wants to leave the Ming Dynasty and go to sea to find a small island to settle down on."

You tell me, in such a vast Ming Dynasty, is there really no place for the Prince of Han to hide?

Or is it that within the Great Ming Dynasty, nothing can put the Prince of Han at ease, and someone wants to see him die?

As soon as Zhu Di finished speaking, Zhu Gaoxu immediately perked up.

Here comes the show.

Zhu Gaochi, standing to the side, knelt down on the ground without even thinking.

"Father, the second son is the Prince of Han of the Ming Dynasty. How could there be no place for the second son to stay?"

In this great Ming Dynasty, no one would want to harm the second son. Even if someone dared, his son would never allow it!

The smile in Zhu Gaochi's heart had long since vanished without a trace, leaving only a heavy heart.

Zhu Di's words were clearly directed at him.

Is there no place for Zhu Gaochi in the Ming Dynasty? Does someone want him dead?

He wasn't mentioned at all, yet every word about him was inseparable from his.

Because he was the only one with a conflict with Zhu Gaochi, and he was the crown prince, and he also happened to have this ability later on.

Zhu Gaochi was now both solemn and puzzled.

What exactly did Zhu Gaoxu say to Zhu Di, and did Zhu Di really think that way, or was he just giving him a warning?

As for Zhu Gaoxu's plan to go overseas to assume his fiefdom, although it surprised him, Zhu Gaoxu was now more concerned about what Zhu Di was really thinking.

Zhu Di's ideas were the real threat to him.

For a moment, Zhu Gaochi's heart was pounding wildly, like a rollercoaster.

Zhu Di stared intently at Zhu Gaochi, who was lying on the ground.

"Since the Ming Dynasty can accommodate the Prince of Han, why does he want to go to sea to find a small island to settle down on?"

"Your Highness, do you know why?"