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

Zhu Di was shocked; Zhu Gaoxu's actions had completely exceeded his expectations.

He could understand all of the previous actions.

Now they've sold off the Han Prince's Mansion and are buying up large quantities of food and supplies. What are they planning to do?

Soon, Zhu Di came to his senses, and his face became even more gloomy.

He had already guessed Zhu Gaoxu's purpose: he must have made up his mind to go to sea and wanted to start preparations ahead of time.

What angered Zhu Di was that if he agreed to let Zhu Gaoxu go out, he would be so heartless as not to provide him with money, food and supplies.

Zhu Gaoxu must have really distrusted him, making him prepare all this himself. Zhu Di was both angry and amused.

If Zhu Gaoxu had prepared these things, and he didn't agree, would Zhu Gaoxu have been able to take them out?

If you're so sure he'll agree, what are you trying to say by preparing all this now?

Zhu Di expelled his own son from the Ming Dynasty and sent him to his fiefdom overseas. Moreover, he was sent abroad to solve the internal and external troubles of the Ming Dynasty, and he had to prepare everything himself. How ruthless must he have been to do that?

At this moment, Zhu Gaosui's cautious voice came again.

"Father, shall we go back today, or tomorrow?"

"When I get back tomorrow, I want to see what the second brother is up to."

He glanced at Zhu Gaosui, who looked anxious, and slowly smiled without the slightest impatience.

Zhu Di also came to terms with it; it was just some criticism, and he had been criticized far more than anyone else.

By preparing these things, Zhu Gaochi was able to save a considerable amount of money and grain, which he could then use for his northern expedition.

More importantly, Zhu Di also wanted to see how many troubles Zhu Gaoxu could cause him in one day.

Is this the end, or just the beginning?

Suddenly remembering something, Zhu Di said in a deep voice, "Third Prince, don't go and inform the Second Prince, understand?"

"Yes, Father, I definitely won't tell!" Zhu Gaosui quickly agreed, startled.

He originally planned to send someone to persuade Zhu Gaoxu after he left, since he was his second brother and there was still some affection between them, so he should try to persuade him.

Zhu Di's words immediately dispelled all his thoughts.

Zhu Di nodded in satisfaction and then dismissed Zhu Gaosui.

However, less than half an hour later, Zhu Gaosui hurriedly arrived again.

"Dad, the second son... the second son, he..."

"Hmm? What's wrong with the second brother?"

Seeing Zhu Gaosui's hesitant and troubled expression, Zhu Di frowned and tensed up instantly.

The fact that Zhu Gaosui was in such a hurry and found it difficult to speak must mean that Zhu Gaoxu had done something shameful again.

Zhu Di was truly exhausted, and Zhu Gaochi was always causing him trouble.

It's only been a short time, yet so many messages have already come back.

Seeing Zhu Di's direct gaze, Zhu Gaosui had no choice but to bite the bullet and speak.

"The second son found some powerful and wealthy people in the capital, visited them one by one, and took some money from them."

"Damn it! What is he trying to do! He's completely disgraced us!"

Zhu Di finally couldn't hold back, slapping the armrest of the chair and glaring at it with a puff of his beard.

Zhu Di was furious. Zhu Gaosui's words sounded nice, but in reality, it was Zhu Gaoxu who, relying on his status, went to those people to demand money.

The mighty Prince of Han of the Ming Dynasty must be desperately short of money to have to go to those people to ask for it.

This process will likely involve a fair amount of threats and intimidation.

Zhu Di really wanted to drag Zhu Gaoxu to his side and ask him how he could do such a despicable thing.

They've lost all sense of shame!

The key point is that Zhu Gaochi doesn't care about his reputation. He does care about his reputation, the Zhu family does care about theirs, and the imperial family does care about theirs!

Zhu Di kept telling himself not to get angry and trying to calm himself down, but he just couldn't find peace.

Zhu Gaosui kept his head down, afraid of offending Zhu Di and then the fire would spread to him.

"Father, my second brother told those people that he was going to go to sea to take up his fief, and those people gave him money on their own initiative."

"snort!"

Zhu Di gave a cold snort and remained silent.

The idea that they would have to leave the Ming Dynasty and go to sea to take up their fiefdoms was a blatant threat.

Hearing this, who among them would dare to provoke Zhu Gaoxu at this moment?

They were already about to set sail and go overseas. If they really angered Zhu Gaoxu, they would have no choice but to bear whatever Zhu Gaoxu did to them.

To put it bluntly, once things have come to that point, why would anyone care about anything else?

He finally saw through Zhu Gaoxu. Despite his belief that he had improved after the changes, he realized that Zhu Gaoxu was now a shameless and ruthless scoundrel.

Zhu Gaosui trembled, swallowed hard, and said softly with a furrowed brow, "Father, there's also... Second Brother has entered the palace. He brought out some of the porcelain, calligraphy, paintings, and other items from your palace."

The second son went to the Imperial Household Department and took a lot of trinkets.

The people in the palace couldn't stop him, and dared not stop him; now the second prince has taken all of this to exchange for money...

Zhu Gaosui spoke with utmost caution, and Zhu Di listened with veins throbbing on his forehead, his hands clenching into fists, his breathing becoming increasingly rapid, and his chest rising and falling noticeably.

"Haha, great, excellent!"

Zhu Di's loud laughter echoed, and Zhu Gaosui was already kneeling on the ground, not daring to raise his head or make any movement.

Zhu Di had come to terms with it by this time. Zhu Gaoxu was completely determined to leave, and he was willing to do all this, even if it meant giving others leverage against him and ruining his own reputation.

After calming down a bit, Zhu Di felt that he was in a good state of mind, better than ever before.

He was repeatedly tormented by Zhu Gaoxu, and his good mentality was forced out of him.

Looking at Zhu Gaosui lying on the ground, Zhu Di's face darkened again.

"Third brother, am I that scary?"

"No, Dad isn't scary at all, not at all."

"If it's not scary, why are you kneeling on the ground? Why are your hands and feet shaking?"

Zhu Di shook his head helplessly, feeling a pang of sadness.

When did he and his son become like this?

"Alright, I understand. You may leave now."

"Yes, Father."

Zhu Gaosui felt relieved and, without offering any comfort to Zhu Di or pleading for Zhu Gaoxu, withdrew directly.

He said he wasn't afraid, but his actions spoke volumes, which made Zhu Di quite confused.

However, before Zhu Di could catch his breath, Zhu Gaosui, who had just gone down, turned back.

This time, his steps were even more hurried, even somewhat chaotic, and he appeared extremely anxious.

"Father, something terrible has happened! Second Brother's left, right, and central guards have all marched south! They're facing off against the garrison troops along the way!"

Zhu Di's pupils contracted, and he instantly felt a headache coming on.

After thinking for a moment, he looked at Zhu Gaosui.

"Order all areas to allow passage! Summon the Three Guards of the Prince of Han!"

Zhu Di's eyes flickered, but a smile gradually appeared on his face.

He had previously concluded that Zhu Gaochi was going to his fiefdom by sea, but now the three guards were being moved without his knowledge or consent.

By sending a group south, Zhu Gaochi had mobilized all the forces he could muster.

Whether this is truly for the purpose of going to sea, or whether he intends to use the guise of going to sea to deceive everyone, just as he once did, and then secretly pull a fast one, no one can know.

Zhu Di himself was unclear about what Zhu Gaoxu wanted to do.

But he wouldn't mind bringing all of Zhu Gaoxu's forces over.

Zhu Di was eager to see what Zhu Gaoxu would do.

If it really involves going to sea, we can discuss it.

If the goal was to stage a Xuanwu Gate Incident in the Ming Dynasty, he has now set the stage and provided the opportunity.

Zhu Di was eager to know if Zhu Gaochi dared to do it!

"Second brother, I'm curious to see what you'll do next."