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

Zhu Gaochi's heart skipped a beat, and his pupils trembled involuntarily.

Was Zhu Di serious, or just trying to scare him? Did Zhu Di really want to use this method to keep Zhu Gaoxu?

In an instant, Zhu Gaochi quickly calmed his restless mind.

"Father, if this can bring peace to our family and stabilize the Ming Dynasty, your son is willing to go to Japan in my place!"

Zhu Gaochi looked at Zhu Di with a firm expression, without flinching.

He didn't know why Zhu Gaoxu wanted to go to Japan, or whether Zhu Di wanted Zhu Gaoxu to go to Japan, and he didn't know whether what Zhu Di said was true or false.

But Zhu Gaochi did not forget one thing: he was the eldest brother, and what Zhu Di feared most was that the brothers would kill each other.

All he needs to do is to consistently uphold his role as a good older brother.

No matter what, he will always be the kind older brother who can tolerate Zhu Gaoxu and Zhu Gaosui and always thinks of them.

Zhu Gaochi knew very well that as long as he did this, nothing would happen.

Objectively speaking, given what Zhu Gaochi did in the capital, it would be very difficult for him to remain in power.

Unless Zhu Di was willing to massacre the court, Zhu Gaochi would have no further possibility.

Zhu Di looked at Zhu Gaochi and was momentarily moved.

He didn't know if Zhu Gaochi was sincere, but what Zhu Gaochi showed and did made him extremely gratified.

In Zhu Di's view, it was rare for someone to be so fearless in making this decision, even if it meant he was actually playing along.

In an instant, Zhu Di's gaze softened, and he gently patted Zhu Gaochi's shoulder before smiling.

"Not bad, he has a sense of responsibility and looks like a big brother."

Zhu Gaochi breathed a sigh of relief, but his face showed pain, as if he was about to cry.

"Dad, please don't scare us like that anymore, okay? Your son is scared."

Zhu Di looked at Zhu Gaochi clutching his chest, his face filled with lingering fear and dread. At that moment, he suddenly felt a pang of pity.

She reached out to touch Zhu Gaochi's face, but when Zhu Gaochi instinctively tried to dodge, she firmly moved her hand closer to his palm and then withdrew it with a smile.

"Alright, you're a grown man, don't let people laugh at you."

At this point, Zhu Di's expression turned serious: "Don't worry about what the second prince is doing in the capital. He'll be fine."

He knew perfectly well why Zhu Gaochi had come.

In reality, Zhu Gaoxu's three guards marching south could not have caused such a great upheaval.

It wouldn't be difficult for the imperial court to deal with these three guards; in fact, it would be quite simple.

What truly mattered was his opinion, because it was his agreement to allow the three guards of the Han King to advance south unimpeded.

This is equivalent to him urgently mobilizing a large army from outside to come to Beijing.

It's normal to feel nervous.

He had just probed Zhu Gaochi to see what he was really thinking.

Since they knew it was him who let them pass, yet they still came to find him, this point in time is quite delicate.

Zhu Gaochi said nothing more; things had developed to this point and were no longer subject to his will.

More importantly, as long as Zhu Di was still alive, the Ming Dynasty could be completely changed by a single word from him, regardless of the time or the situation.

As for Zhu Di's earlier words of comfort, Zhu Gaochi did not take them seriously.

The emperor's mind is unpredictable and fickle; it may be so now, but not necessarily the next.

Often, it's best to just take what the emperor says with a grain of salt.

But then, as if suddenly remembering something, Zhu Gaochi whispered, "Father, has it been decided that the second son will go to sea to be enfeoffed in Japan?"

If everything is settled, the son can then begin preparing the necessary money, provisions, and supplies for his second son's departure, and procure ships.

"Eldest brother, do you think it's really suitable for the second son to go to Japan to serve as a feudal lord?"

Zhu Gaochi pondered for a while and then slowly said, "I don't think it's a good idea. Although Japan is weak, it is only relative to the Ming Dynasty."

If the second son goes, war will inevitably break out, and settling down in his fiefdom will likely be difficult.

Zhu Di nodded as he listened to Zhu Gaochi recount the facts he already knew.

"Well, after we get back, let's start preparing money, food and supplies for the second son. We should start mobilizing ships, and try to gather as many large ships as possible."

If the number of ships is still insufficient, some should be drawn from the navy.

"Yes."

Zhu Di's words undoubtedly confirmed that Zhu Gaochi would be allowed to go to sea to assume his fiefdom, but it was still uncertain whether it was Japan.

But Zhu Gaochi couldn't feel happy at all.

Zhu Di's confirmation here means that Zhu Gaoxu's voyage to sea has been settled.

Wherever Zhu Gaoxu goes, Zhu Di is now suspicious of him, and his future days are probably going to be difficult.

Just then, Zhu Gaosui hurried over, glanced at Zhu Gaochi, and ignored him.

"Father, many censors from the Censorate have arrived. They are kneeling outside, remonstrating against my second brother for what he did in the capital and for secretly mobilizing troops to the south."

The other six ministries and cabinet members will also be arriving soon, seemingly all for this matter.

As soon as Zhu Gaosui finished speaking, Zhu Gaochi thought to himself that he was in trouble.

As expected, Zhu Di's face darkened instantly.

"Hehe, very good. Are these people trying to force the emperor to abdicate?"

Since they want to die for their cause, then let them kneel. They are not allowed to rise or eat without an imperial edict!

"Have the Imperial Guards watch over them; if anyone falls, help them up and make them keep kneeling."

Zhu Di was filled with murderous intent, yet he couldn't help but reflect on his own actions.

He hasn't killed anyone in the past few years. Do these people think his knife has become dull?

These people still have the nerve to mention what Zhu Gaochi did in the capital.

As for the Three Guards' southward journey, how were they able to reach the capital without any obstacles? Can't these people really figure out the reason?

Were these people trying to impeach Zhu Gaochi, or were they targeting him?

Seriously, it's so hard to guess!

Zhu Gaochi listened to Zhu Di's arrangements and wanted to say something, but when he saw Zhu Di suddenly looking at him, he panicked and knelt on the ground in fear.

"Father, your son has been at Jiming Temple all this time and knows nothing about these things."

"Boss, I understand. You can go now. Come back to the palace with me tomorrow."

Zhu Di did not blame Zhu Gaochi. He had only meant to scare Zhu Gaochi when he tried to persuade him.

He knew exactly what Zhu Gaochi had done at Jiming Temple.

After Zhu Gaochi left, Zhu Di was calm and no longer had the emotions he had just felt.

"How's the investigation going?"

"Father, some of the people have been identified, but others will take some time to find out."

The rats lurking in the shadows have also left traces, and I've already assigned three commanders to personally lead teams to keep a close watch on them.

"Dad, should we close the net now?"

Zhu Gaosui was overjoyed; this time he had succeeded, and he would have made a great contribution.

Zhu Di remained silent, lost in thought for a long time.

"Don't rush, let them make a fuss a bit more and see if there are any escapees."

Zhu Gaosui was taken aback. He looked at Zhu Di's profile, the corners of his mouth gradually turning up, and then he lowered his head.

"Yes, Father, I'll go and make the arrangements right away."

Zhu Di stayed alone for a while, then returned to the house.

Outside, however, it was becoming increasingly lively.