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

Chapter 92 Abducting a Future King for Fun: The Shock of Civil and Military Officials

Zhu Gaoxu looked at Li Fangyuan with great interest; he was particularly interested in this Li Tao.

The pinnacle of Joseon's history was reached during the reign of King Sejong, Yi Tae.

They kicked the Jurchens, punched the Japanese, developed the people's livelihood and economy, and created their own script and language, laying the foundation for future languages.

The only pity is that they also died young.

Zhu Gaoxu was very interested in seeing what kind of person this was.

Especially now, he is in dire need of a secretary.

After all, with more and more things to do, having a secretary can reduce his workload considerably.

With someone like this as a secretary, things can't be bad, right?

Once Lee Bang-won is dead, he can legitimately make moves in North Korea.

However, Li Fangyuan was momentarily stunned when Zhu Gaoxu suddenly mentioned Li Pao.

Li Fangyuan was extremely puzzled. How did Zhu Gaoxu know about his son, Li He?

Logically speaking, Li He should never have come into the sight of a Ming prince like Zhu Gaochi.

"Your Highness, I do indeed have a son named Tao, but in what way has my son shown disrespect to Your Highness?"

"Brother Fangyuan, there's no need to be nervous. I've heard that this boy is intelligent, and I'm currently lacking someone by my side. Li He is just right."

Brother Fangyuan, he's just a prince. Why not let him come with me? Would you be willing to part with him?

Seeing the nervous Li Fangyuan, Zhu Gaoxu directly stated his purpose.

Yi Bang-won's eldest son, Yi Ti, is also the current Crown Prince of Joseon, but he only knows how to eat, drink, and have fun, and is not liked by Yi Bang-won.

Zhu Gaoxu's decision to take Li He away now is not solely based on his interest in Li He.

Having taken Li He away, Li Fangyuan could only use Li Ti.

With Li Ti in power, he no longer needs to worry about anything, which is the best outcome for him.

Li Fangyuan's pupils contracted, her heart filled with hesitation.

It would be strange if he believed the idea that he was missing someone by his side.

The Ming Dynasty was full of talented people; would Zhu Gaochi lack someone by his side?

But Li Fangyuan couldn't understand why Zhu Gaoxu wanted to take Li Tao away.

If he were just an ordinary son, he would have let him go, but he was very satisfied with Li Tao.

But as Zhu Gaoxu said, if Li Tao were the crown prince of Joseon, he would have been able to refuse him openly and generously.

But Li He was different; continuing to refuse Zhu Gaoxu was not a good thing for Korea.

Zhu Gaoxu saw Li Fangyuan hesitate before speaking.

"Brother Fangyuan, it is a good thing that your son can gain more experience by my side."

Could it be that Brother Fangyuan believes I, as the Prince of Han of the Great Ming, am unqualified? Are you looking down on me? Do you disdain the Great Ming?

Zhu Gaoxu tried to persuade him while simultaneously threatening him.

They used both carrots and sticks.

In fact, Li Fangyuan also knew that the Ming Dynasty could not be ruled by Zhu Gaoxu, especially since Zhu Gaoxu was a loser who had escaped.

But he dared not gamble. If Zhu Gaochi still held influence in the Ming Dynasty, the future of Joseon would certainly not be easy.

Lee Bang-won trembled at the mere thought of Zhu Di, the emperor of the Ming Dynasty.

This Emperor Yongle was truly capable of launching military campaigns at the slightest provocation.

"Your Highness, the King of Han is too kind. It is my honor to be able to follow Your Highness."

"Please wait a moment, Your Highness, while I have someone fetch him."

"Someone, go and invite Grand Prince Chungnyeong here."

Li Fangyuan dared not refuse and could only respectfully agree.

Despite utterly despising Zhu Gaochi's behavior—despite having already fled the Ming Dynasty as a loser, he still insisted on bullying them by relying on the Ming Dynasty—we are deeply disgusted by his actions.

At this moment, Li Fangyuan was even thinking about contacting Zhu Gaochi, the crown prince of the Ming Dynasty.

If he doesn't align himself with the Ming Dynasty and establish a relationship with them, he will always be in a passive position with Zhu Gaochi.

Upon hearing this, Zhu Gaoxu finally revealed a relieved smile.

With Li He's arrival, Zhu Gaoxu finally met him in person.

He was almost identical to Zhu Gaochi, with a gentle and refined appearance and a similarly obese body. Many of his features were strikingly similar.

No wonder he died after only four years of intense study and practice, even shorter-lived than Zhu Gaochi.

As expected, regardless of Li He's thoughts, the moment Zhu Gaoxu and Li Fangyuan made their engagement, Li Tao was destined to leave with Zhu Gaoxu and his family.

Zhu Gaoxu stayed in Korea for a few more days until Li Fangyuan filled ten large ships with grain, iron, and other supplies. Only then did Zhu Gaoxu return with a smile on his face.

When Zhu Gaoxu left, Li Fangyuan looked gloomy, and even began to aggravate his old ailment, with a faint red tinge appearing in his mouth.

Zhu Gaoxu came aboard the ship and sent Li He away.

Zhu Gaoxu had no interest in Li Tao whatsoever.

He was so similar to Zhu Gaochi that he naturally felt some aversion towards him.

As for the secretary?

Zhu Gaoxu gave up on the idea and decided to treat it as a chance to abduct a future emperor for fun.

His main goal was to prevent Li Tao from taking power and to ensure that his own language and script could not be developed before he conquered North Korea.

As long as North Korea continues to use Han Chinese culture, characters, and language, it will be beneficial to them when they are conquered.

The fleet set sail, returning to Handong.

This time, they made a fortune at their first stop, and Zhu Gaoxu didn't want to wander around with a ship full of grain, iron, and other supplies.

At this moment, Wei Da, Sheng Jian, Jin Rong and the others came up to Zhu Gaoxu, their faces full of enthusiasm.

"Your Highness, how did you manage to do that? How could Korea give us so much grain and iron?"

It's no wonder the group was astonished; even ten ships weren't enough to carry everything, and more fleets would be sent later to transport the goods.

Without firing a single shot, Zhu Gaoxu only stayed for a few days and yet obtained so much.

The group was both shocked and filled with admiration for Zhu Gaoxu.

This was all obtained by Zhu Gaochi alone, venturing into Korea and acquiring these things on foreign soil.

Zhu Gaoxu looked at their eager expressions and smiled calmly.

"You should learn and observe more. We are still developing our foundations and are not ready for war."

To get what you want, you need to use your brain; you can't just fight all day. You need to learn more.

The group was puzzled for a moment. Although they still didn't understand, their respect for the speaker grew even stronger.

Upon returning to Hanjing, Zhu Huan and the others, seeing the large quantities of grain and urgently needed supplies such as iron that Zhu Gaoxu had brought back, subconsciously assumed that Zhu Gaoxu had gone out to fight.

However, when Zhu Huan learned that it was Zhu Gaoxu who had personally entered Korea and talked with King Yi Bang-won of Korea for several days, he was shocked and looked at Zhu Gaoxu in astonishment.

"Your Highness, this...this was really negotiated by you? What did you discuss with the King of Joseon? And you even brought back one of his princes?"

Zhu Huan was filled with mixed feelings. He never expected that Zhu Gaoxu would bring back so much after going out.

Despite his shock and doubt, Zhu Huan admired and trusted Zhu Gaoxu even more.

Zhu Gaoxu said he could solve it, and he actually... took it out.

Zhu Gaoxu smiled faintly and spoke slowly.

"Alright, these are nothing. You should make arrangements for the use of these supplies such as grain and iron as soon as possible."

There's another batch in North Korea. I'll have someone transport it over later, and you can put it into storage.

I'm going out again; I'll leave things here to you.

Zhu Gaoxu did not explain anything to Zhu Huan, nor did he need to.

Enjoying the fervent admiration of the civil and military officials, Zhu Gaoxu felt exceptionally comfortable.

After a day's rest, he summoned Veda.

"Greetings, Your Highness."

"You will organize a fleet to go to Korea, and take another thousand soldiers with you."

After bringing the supplies back, go and confirm the attack on Tsushima Island with North Korea.

Remember, you should occupy the southern side of Tsushima Island and station a navy there with a force of three thousand.

After you've done all this, write to me!

Zhu Gaoxu also valued Tsushima Island.

There is a place in Japan that Zhu Gaoxu has never forgotten.

That's Iwami Silver Mine, those silver mines are an important cornerstone for economic development.

He had originally planned to go later, but now that there was an opportunity to attack Tsushima Island, with North Korea as the main force, he didn't want to let such a good opportunity slip by.

Once we establish a foothold on Tsushima Island, it will be much easier to attack Iwami.

After Wei Da agreed, Zhu Gaoxu set off again with a fleet of ten large ships.

This time, Zhu Gaoxu headed west.