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

Chapter 96 Zhu Di: The eldest son is disobedient, the second son is overseas, third son, come and help me!

Inside the main hall.

Zhu Di looked at the calm Zhu Gaosui before him, pondering deeply, and did not immediately respond to Zhu Gaosui's request.

Zhu Gaosui had already considered that he would be sent to his fiefdom.

The last incident had a great impact on Zhu Gaosui, and he will definitely go out.

If these recent events hadn't occurred, he would have agreed immediately.

But now, Zhu Di was somewhat reluctant to let Zhu Gaosui go out.

Although he wanted Zhu Gaoxu to return, it would be difficult for Zhu Gaoxu, who had already gone to his fiefdom, to stay.

Even if he forcibly kept Zhu Gaochi in the Ming Dynasty, it would only have the opposite effect.

The problems that were finally resolved will all resurface, along with even more new ones.

However, Zhu Di was extremely concerned about this matter as well.

Those people have already begun to have ideas about the Northern Expedition and about him.

Only by pulling out another person and making them the target of those people's struggle can he continue to control the situation as before.

Since Zhu Gaoxu is outside, Zhu Gaosui is the most suitable candidate now.

"Third brother, why did you suddenly decide to go out and be enfeoffed? Wouldn't it be better if you stayed by my side?"

"Father, I have reached the age to be enfeoffed. According to the rules set by the founding emperor, princes must go to their fiefdoms after they come of age."

Now that the Crown Prince is assisting Father, and I have handed over all matters concerning the Embroidered Uniform Guard, I wish to leave.

Hearing Zhu Di's words of persuasion, Zhu Gaosui remained completely unmoved.

Zhu Gaosui was even somewhat disgusted by this perfunctory attempt to persuade him to stay.

When Zhu Gaoxu went to his fiefdom, Zhu Di tried various ways to force him to stay.

Now he's going to be enfeoffed, just like that, a casual remark.

He had originally planned to go and take up his fiefdom, but now that he had actually come to this point, even though he was following the same path as Zhu Gaochi, the results were completely different.

Both were sons, but Zhu Di's favoritism was very obvious.

This greatly displeased Zhu Gaosui.

Why should I?!

Zhu Di, seeing that Zhu Gaosui remained completely unmoved, showed no disappointment and moved even closer to Zhu Gaosui.

"Third brother, what I said before was just said in anger. Are you still angry with me?"

The second son has already gone to sea to take up his fiefdom, and it will be difficult to see him again.

Now that you are going out to take up your fiefdom, who will be by my side?

Your mother passed away early, leaving us father and sons behind.

"My second son has to go to sea, there's no other way. How can you bear to leave an old man like me behind?"

Zhu Di's eyes were slightly red, and his voice was soft and sincere.

Zhu Di entered that state in an instant.

"I watched you grow up, you've always been by my side, and you're the one who listens to me the most. I remember it all, and you're my favorite."

"You don't know yet, do you? Just now, the Embroidered Uniform Guard sent a secret report: those people below want to destroy the very foundation of our Great Ming Dynasty."

Zhu Di slowly recounted all those events to Zhu Gaosui.

In the end, Zhu Di was full of anger, but when he met Zhu Gaosui's gaze, he softened in an instant.

"Those people are all supporters of the boss. No one knows whether this incident is related to the boss or not."

Now that the boss's power is growing, those people below him can't wait any longer. They're all hoping I'll give up my position and hoping I'll die.

Third brother, now the eldest brother is eyeing us covetously, and the second brother has gone to sea. All that's left by my side is you.

Stay here, lend me a hand, help this old man.

You can relinquish your position as Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, but you can still manage its affairs.

Not only that, you will also have to stay by my side and learn how to handle state affairs.

In terms of both literary and martial arts, compared to the eldest and second eldest sons, you are ultimately still somewhat lacking.

But it's okay, just stay by my side and learn slowly.

During the northern expedition, they practiced warfare; in peacetime, they studied how to govern a country.

Third brother, I have high expectations for you. Don't let me down, okay?

At this moment, Zhu Di was simply a father, and he wanted to speak of the father Zhu Gaosui left behind in an exceptionally moving and affectionate way.

Zhu Gaosui listened quietly, his expression no longer as calm as when he first entered, and he was even more shocked.

He never imagined that those who supported Zhu Gaochi would have the audacity to do such a thing.

The more he heard, the faster Zhu Gaosui's heart pounded; he was truly moved.

The so-called "going out to take up a fiefdom" was actually just a helpless choice made after he had given up hope of staying in the capital.

However, now he has seen an opportunity again.

After this incident, Zhu Gaochi was undoubtedly to blame by Zhu Di.

With Zhu Gaoxu overseas, Zhu Di truly focused his attention on him.

He hadn't realized that as the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, he was destined to be unable to compete for that position as long as he remained in that role.

Despite being dealt a blow by Zhu Di before, ultimately it was because he didn't handle things well.

Now Zhu Di has asked him to learn how to handle state affairs, and he is taking him on a northern expedition to gain experience, so that he can continue to manage the Embroidered Uniform Guard even without the title of Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

And given the blow this incident dealt to Zhu Di, his expression and tone at this moment indicated that this opportunity was far greater than the last one.

This was his chance to squeeze into the true core of the Ming Dynasty. It was the opportunity that Zhu Di began to pay attention to him when he was disappointed with Zhu Gaochi and Zhu Gaoxu was overseas.

Ultimately, he still couldn't let go of that position.

Who would truly want to leave the central government of the Ming Dynasty unless they reach that point?

As for whether all of this was fake, Zhu Gaosui had such thoughts, but he quickly dismissed them.

Even if he gets nothing this time, he won't lose anything; he'll just have to go out and take up his fief.

But what if all of this were true?

What if Zhu Di really had this idea?

If you miss this opportunity, you may never have another one for the rest of your life.

Once you leave the central hub, it's not easy to come back.

As for the lessons learned from Zhu Gaochi's past, Zhu Gaochi automatically ignored them all.

Only by experiencing it firsthand can one truly understand the immense temptation that Zhu Di offered.

Zhu Gaosui really couldn't hold back.

The more he thought about it, the faster his heart beat, and even his breathing gradually became heavy.

Zhu Di smiled knowingly as he observed the changes in Zhu Gaosui.

Sure enough, he said it himself; no normal person could have a brain like Zhu Gaoxu's.

Only Zhu Gaochi, who only thought about going overseas every day, was so disdainful of the position that was so close at hand.

Zhu Di had no choice but to bring out Zhu Gaosui as a scapegoat in order to contain Zhu Gaochi and prevent those people from interfering with his northern expedition.

Everything should wait until he completely defeats the Oirats and Tatars, extends the Ming Dynasty's territory further north, and completely resolves the border troubles of the Ming Dynasty. At the very least, he should secure a century of peace for the Ming Dynasty's borders before dealing with these issues.

This was Zhu Di's bottom line and his determination.

Having lived through the Hongwu era, he knew all too well how great the threat posed by the Northern Yuan was.

His many years of experience on the border, and the bloody lessons of past dynasties, all told him that if the troubles in the north were not eliminated, the Central Plains would not be at peace.

Zhu Di looked at Zhu Gaosui, waiting for Zhu Gaosui's final answer.

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