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

Zhu Di stood quietly with his hands behind his back, not glancing at the memorials again.

He had anticipated opposition, but he hadn't expected it to be this strong.

What Zhu Di didn't expect was that this time, the opposition, while seemingly against his northern expedition, actually revealed another purpose in most of the voices.

That's Zhu Gaoxu!

These people kept subtly mentioning Zhu Gaoxu's voyage, and with events breaking out in various places at this juncture, he could already guess too much even without the Embroidered Uniform Guard investigating.

Popular uprisings have occurred in multiple locations?

They didn't rebel earlier or later, but of all times, they appeared at this very moment, and one after another, they came to his desk.

Zhu Di didn't need to think about the shady dealings involved.

Compared to the attitudes of the others, Zhu Di was more concerned about Zhu Gaochi's attitude.

Were these things organized by Zhu Gaochi in secret, or were he coerced by those people?

Even if he was coerced, what would Zhu Gaochi do next?

Just then, Zhu Gaosui hurriedly walked in.

"Father, everything is ready. Give the order, and we can arrest them all!"

Zhu Gaosui glanced at the memorial on the table, his eyelids twitched, and he quickly lowered his head.

Zhu Di slowly turned around, looked at Zhu Gaosui, and his face was full of murderous intent.

"You know where these memorials came from, right?"

"My son knows."

"Since you know, then go and do it. Not only should you arrest those people from before, but you shouldn't let any of these people go!"

They were all thrown into the imperial prison and executed at a later date!

If even one person escapes, I will hold you solely responsible!

Zhu Di's gaze was deep, and his murderous intent and imperial aura continued to spread.

As a king who conquered the country on horseback, as someone who came from the Hongwu era, and as someone who seized power on horseback.

Are these people trying to force him to make concessions using such methods?

These people also want him to choose between the Northern Expedition and Zhu Gaochi?

dream!

He would not punish those who truly cared for the Ming Dynasty, such as Xia Yuanji and Jian Yi; on the contrary, he would admire them.

But for others, daring to extend their reach so far means that the blood of the Hongwu era has dried, the killings of the early Jingnan period have been forgotten, they think he is old, and they believe that Zhu Gaochi's position is completely secure after Zhu Gaoxu went to sea.

So, they started to act recklessly.

This time, Zhu Di understood Zhu Yuanzhang exceptionally well.

Some people, if they aren't killed, will really think that if they unite, they can control everything and change the dynasty!

Zhu Gaosui couldn't help but tremble as he heard Zhu Di's murderous words.

He was well aware of how many places were involved this time.

After all, this matter caused quite a stir in the court overnight.

As the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, he knew very well that this matter must have been premeditated.

Even so, the impact of Zhu Di's order was probably comparable to the four major cases during the Hongwu era.

Even he couldn't help but shudder at the thought of the impact.

But at this moment, he had no time to think too much, and Zhu Gaosui responded even more respectfully.

"Yes! I'll go and make the arrangements right away, and I promise not a single person will be missed!"

Zhu Gaosui slowly retreated, went outside, took a deep breath, and slowly exhaled a breath of stale air.

At this moment, he realized that this was a golden opportunity for him.

Zhu Gaoxu has gone to sea, and Zhu Gaochi will definitely be implicated in this matter as well.

Without someone organizing it, it wouldn't have gotten this big in such a short time, and the impact wouldn't have been so great.

Looking at the Ming Dynasty today, the only ones capable of organizing such an organization besides Zhu Di are Zhu Gaochi.

Thinking about these things, Zhu Gaosui felt a surge of excitement, as if he could already see a bright future.

Zhu Di remained alone in the palace, waiting for someone, waiting for an explanation.

After waiting for a long time, hurried footsteps sounded.

Upon hearing the sound, Zhu Di slowly looked over and saw Zhu Gaochi kneeling on the ground below.

"Father, your son is here."

Zhu Gaochi was extremely respectful at this moment, prostrating himself on the ground.

After he woke up, he learned what had happened and that so many people in the court and local areas were submitting petitions.

Especially when he arrived at Zhu Di's place, looking at the mountain of memorials piled up on his desk, Zhu Gaochi's heart trembled.

Having served as the crown prince for so many years, he knew Zhu Di's temperament all too well.

He knew how serious this matter was.

He did favor the civil officials because they supported him, but he was also the crown prince of the Ming Dynasty, and he wouldn't blindly help those people at all times.

It's clear that he was dragged into this mess!

He didn't even know about something as important as a petition from the local authorities!

He was indeed prepared, but not at this time.

The preparations made were only to prevent Zhu Di from relocating so many people to Zhu Gaoxu's territory, not to stop Zhu Di's northern expedition, nor to force Zhu Di to choose between the northern expedition and Zhu Gaoxu.

Others thought Zhu Di was old, but he knew that even if Zhu Di was truly old, he could still make those with such intentions bleed to death.

This experience also gave Zhu Gaochi a profound understanding of those people's intentions.

It's true that we support him, but it's also true that we exploit him.

But unfortunately, he had no choice but to accept it.

After a long while, Zhu Di's voice slowly echoed in the hall.

"Your Highness, don't you have anything to explain to me?"

Zhu Gaochi's heart tightened, and he couldn't help but feel a sense of fear.

This time it wasn't feigned; I was genuinely scared.

From Zhu Di's way of addressing him, he could sense that Zhu Di was extremely dissatisfied with him.

This time, he might really die.

Even if he doesn't die, there's a very high chance he'll lose his position as crown prince.

Zhu Gaochi spoke up immediately without any hesitation.

"Father, I am innocent. Although I advised you to temporarily abandon the northern expedition, it was because I was wholeheartedly thinking of the court and the people of the world."

I am not asking Father to stop the northern expedition, but I want Father to wait until the national treasury is full before launching the northern expedition.

My son was dealing with state affairs until late last night, dealing with disaster situations in various places, and felt deeply worried and uneasy.

The lives of ordinary people are far too difficult.

As for my second son, I knew I owed him something, so when he went to sea, I fully cooperated with him to handle his resettlement and relocation.

My only concern is that too many people will migrate there, which will burden my second child and ultimately harm him.

I have absolutely no other thoughts besides that.

The son had no idea why these people would choose to submit a petition together at this time, nor did he know who was instructing them.

Father, I'm innocent!

Zhu Gaochi broke down in tears at the end.

He really wanted to cry. He had been dealing with things until late at night, and then this happened when he woke up the next day. He was both angry and innocent.

This time, he truly hated those people.

Zhu Di looked at Zhu Gaochi and believed what Zhu Gaochi said this time.

He was still confident in what kind of person his son would be.

Even if Zhu Gaochi had several times the courage, he wouldn't dare to do such a thing on his own initiative.

"Boss, go back and think it over carefully. I'll give you three days. Come back to me when you've thought it through."

The matter of the second son, the matter of the northern expedition, and this time the officials and gentry in Jiangnan.

If you understand, you're still the Crown Prince.

I don't understand. Didn't you always want to resign from your position as crown prince and return to Shuntian to retire?

"I will grant your wish."

"Get lost."

Zhu Di didn't want to continue the conversation; all he was waiting for was Zhu Gaochi's attitude.

However, Zhu Gaochi's attitude was neither enough to show him Zhu Gaochi's sincerity nor enough to make him feel disgusted.

This was also the last chance he gave Zhu Gaochi.

If Zhu Gaochi really couldn't do it, he truly could.

Zhu Gaochi didn't say anything more and slowly retreated.

Upon returning to the Eastern Palace, they found the Embroidered Uniform Guards arresting officials of the Eastern Palace.

Zhu Gaochi was startled. He looked at the Crown Princess Zhang, who was hiding her tears, and came to her side. He did nothing to stop the Embroidered Uniform Guards.

"What's going on...?"

Zhang wanted to ask Zhu Gaochi, but seeing Zhu Gaochi shaking his head with a gloomy expression, she had no choice but to shut her mouth and go back into the house.

Just then, Zhu Zhanji, who had just woken up, saw the Embroidered Uniform Guards searching the Eastern Palace and was immediately enraged.

"you..."

"Shut up! Go back home!"

Before Zhu Zhanji could say anything, he was interrupted by Zhu Gaochi's angry shout.

Seeing Zhu Gaochi's unprecedented seriousness and heavy expression, Zhu Zhanji was stunned for a moment.

Just then, another group of Imperial Guards arrived and came directly in front of Zhu Gaochi.

"Your Highness, Yang Pu, the Crown Prince's tutor, has bewitched the Crown Prince and caused chaos among the court officials. By imperial decree, Yang Pu is to be imprisoned and executed in three days."

After the Imperial Guard finished speaking, he ignored Zhu Gaochi's trembling body and led his men to take Yang Pu, who was not struggling at all, away.

Throughout the entire process, Zhu Gaochi witnessed everything without uttering a single word.

Zhu Zhanji's face was filled with fear, as if it were the end of the world.