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

The side hall of the Prince of Han's residence.

Wang Bin, Zhu Huan, Luo Li, Mei Qing, and the others sat upright, each of them looking out the door.

Zhu Gaoxu's figure slowly appeared, stepped through the door, and went straight to the main seat above.

"Greetings, Your Highness."

Zhu Gaoxu looked at the group with burning eyes and smiled.

"Sorry to keep you waiting, please have a seat."

"Yes."

Zhu Huan, Wang Bin, and the others were surprised, especially Zhu Huan, who couldn't help but glance at Zhu Gaoxu again before quickly looking away.

If what they saw in front of the gate earlier only made them guess that Zhu Gaoxu had changed.

So now, with just one sentence, they were all certain that Zhu Gaoxu had indeed undergone a significant change.

As Zhu Gaoxu's confidants, they knew his temperament all too well. When had he ever been so polite to them?

The group felt a mixture of joy, tension, and heaviness.

The good thing is that Zhu Gaoxu is not like before.

That's also what makes it tense and heavy.

In addition, they had all been gathered together last night, and the three guards were also called in.

Their first reaction was that something big had happened.

Zhu Gaoxu looked at the slightly furrowed brows of the group, their faces showing deep concern yet resolute in their gazes, and felt a sense of helplessness.

These people all seemed to think he was going to do *that* kind of thing, without considering any other possibilities.

"Don't guess anymore. I called you here because there was something, but it's not that kind of thing."

As you all know, our situation is getting harder and harder.

If we did something like that, we wouldn't stand a chance; we'd only end up dragging our brothers down with us.

There are no more opportunities in the imperial court, and staying in the capital any longer would be disadvantageous for us.

I am preparing to go out and take up my fiefdom, to establish my territory and develop my strength. Do you have any thoughts on this?

Zhu Gaoxu did not hold back much from his trusted confidants.

Now that he wants these people to follow him, he needs to make things clear.

When the group heard that Zhu Gaoxu wanted to go out to his fiefdom and was not allowed to stay in the capital, they were all shocked.

Moreover, judging from Zhu Gaoxu's appearance, he had clearly made up his mind.

Without much thought, the group stood up, their expressions resolute.

"Your Highness, I am willing to follow you!"

After saying that, Zhu Huan immediately added, "Your Highness, going out to take up a fiefdom and developing your own power is one way."

However, given the Emperor's previous experience, this trip to the vassal states will inevitably be subject to restrictions.

Those people in the Eastern Palace probably wouldn't feel comfortable letting the Prince go.

"Where does Your Highness intend to go to assume your fiefdom?"

Zhu Huan was very cautious and somewhat uneasy.

Zhu Gaoxu looked at Zhu Huan with great admiration in his eyes.

This was his trusted scholar and advisor.

This Zhu Huan is not the fictional character Zhu Huan from the modern TV series.

He recruited these people during the Jingnan Rebellion, and they have followed him for many years.

In his previous life, Zhu Huan offered many suggestions, but unfortunately, he was too stubborn and did not adopt them, ultimately leading to his downfall.

What Zhu Huan is talking about now is actually the problem he will face when he takes up his post.

Choosing to take up a fiefdom within the Ming Dynasty might seem like a way out, but in reality, it would be a dead end.

It's just that this dead end will be reached relatively slowly.

If he doesn't die, not only will Zhu Gaochi and Zhu Zhanji be uneasy, but the civil officials and officials from the Eastern Palace faction will also be uneasy.

Now that he has only proposed to take up his fief, Zhu Huan has already pointed out these issues directly, which shows that he is quite capable.

More importantly, although Zhu Huan was his strategist, he did not value Zhu Huan as much in his previous life. Yet, Zhu Huan still accompanied him to the end and died with him, which made Zhu Gaoxu particularly emotional.

"Zhu Huan, what you said is very good, and your considerations are comprehensive and thorough."

However, I haven't finished speaking yet. When I said I was going out to take up a fiefdom, I didn't mean within the Ming Dynasty.

I have already informed the Emperor that I wish to find a small island overseas outside of the Ming Dynasty to serve as my fief.

"Are you still willing to come with me?"

He didn't have time to reminisce about Zhu Huan and the others; their willingness to follow him earlier didn't surprise him.

This is the crucial moment.

Going to a fiefdom overseas has a completely different meaning.

Even if he is his confidant, it's not necessarily true.

Even if they were willing to go out with him, he didn't want them to have ulterior motives.

More importantly, he can roughly judge whether others are the same by observing the thoughts of these individuals.

If even his trusted confidants are unwilling to go out with him, then it will be even more difficult for him to take other people with him without Zhu Di's consent.

All of this is being done in preparation for Zhu Di's refusal to allow him to leave, and for him to insist on leaving on his own.

As soon as Zhu Gaoxu finished speaking, Zhu Huan and the others were shocked and stared at him in disbelief.

Going out to take up a fiefdom is not a big deal.

As his confidants, they knew very well that Zhu Gaoxu had always coveted that position.

Taking up a fiefdom does not mean giving up that position.

But they never imagined that Zhu Gaochi would actually leave the Ming Dynasty and go to a small island to take up his fiefdom.

To put it nicely, it's called being enfeoffed; to put it bluntly, what's the difference between that and being exiled?

No, it's even worse than exile.

In particular, this was Zhu Gaoxu's own initiative, not something Zhu Di asked him to do.

None of them understood Zhu Gaoxu's intentions, but after a short while, no one hesitated.

"Your Highness, your men are willing to follow!"

"Your Highness, I am willing to follow!"

"Your Highness, I am willing to follow you!"

Seeing the four people express their opinions, Zhu Gaoxu breathed a sigh of relief and felt gratified.

Even so, his expression remained tense.

"You all should think this through. I am going to go to sea to take up my fiefdom, and I will not be within the Ming Dynasty."

"On this journey, it may be difficult to return to the Ming Dynasty. Your families will need to go with you."

As soon as he finished speaking, Wang Bin, Luo Li, Mei Qing, and the others did not hesitate at all.

"Your Highness, it's merely overseas; my men have nothing to fear!"

"Wherever Your Highness is, that's where I will be!"

As Zhu Gaochi's confidants, they were well aware that they had become one with him.

Even if it's a mountain of knives and a sea of ​​fire ahead, they have to follow.

Not following is certain death.

There will be other opportunities.

Zhu Huan's eyes were sparkling, and he was quite excited.

"Your Highness, I wholeheartedly agree with the idea of ​​going to sea to assume a fiefdom."

If we were to be enfeoffed within the Ming Dynasty, we would hardly have any good opportunities.

Leaving the Ming Dynasty, especially on a small island, free from those constraints, is actually more conducive to development.

As for the barren and desolate lands overseas, I believe they are of no great harm.

In the past, the Zhou king enfeoffed the world, and the feudal lords expanded their territories, which led to the vast territory that Qin had after unifying the six states.

The Ming Dynasty's current vast territory is the result of the efforts of successive dynasties to develop and expand the region, such as the Jiangnan area, which has led to its current prosperity.

Now that the prince has gone to sea to assume his fiefdom, he is almost no different from the feudal lords of the past.

But the prince has a greater advantage than them. The outer islands have a large number of Yi people, and with the troops the prince brought, there is still a chance.

Your Highness possesses great wisdom; I admire your ability to devise such a method!

As Zhu Huan finished speaking excitedly, Wang Bin and the others were all stunned.

Leaving the Ming Dynasty to take up a fiefdom—were there really so many intricacies involved?

In an instant, the heaviness from before gradually disappeared, and the group seemed to begin to feel a longing for the outside world.

Zhu Gaoxu looked at Zhu Huan, finding it hard to believe for a moment.

He knew Zhu Huan was talented, but this talent exceeded his expectations.

But whether it was beyond his expectations or merely a facade, Zhu Gaoxu was also somewhat unsure.

Sending someone to assume a fiefdom, though similar to the process of enfeoffing other lords, has been shown by history to be anything but easy.

Wang Bin and the others were unaware of those things, but Zhu Huan, a scholar who had read so many books, couldn't possibly be unaware of the difficulties involved and the time it took.

After a moment, Zhu Gaoxu didn't say anything more. Seeing that Wang Bin and the others were clearly different, he slowly smiled.

"Since you are all willing to come with me, once we reach the fiefdom, I will certainly not mistreat any of the brothers who have followed me!"

"Now, you all go down and begin preparations to set sail as soon as possible!"