The Great Ming Demon Pill: Your Majesty, please address me as the Crown Prince!

Chapter 154 Grandfather, no one knows more about customs duties than me!

After he finished speaking, everyone present was stunned.

Everyone was stunned and gasped.

motherfucker.

No wonder Zhu Zhanjun said it was a gold dog chain.

Damn it, it's like poison hidden in honey.

The Japanese will be trapped if they eat it.

Zhu Di stood there, his hand, which had been stroking his beard, now completely frozen.

His eyes widened slightly, filled with shock.

He spent half his life fighting and ruling the court. What kind of conspiracies and strategies, military and national policies hadn't he seen?

But the plan that Zhan Jun's grandson had devised so casually truly shocked him.

Using seemingly sweet trade as bait, they gradually and quietly seize a country's economic lifeline and the foundation of its people's livelihood, and in the end, with just a gentle squeeze, they can cause it to collapse from within.

The sophistication of this method, the depth of its thought, and the "insidious" nature of its execution sent a chill down his spine, even through this seasoned emperor.

Zhu Gaochi was also quite shocked. His obese body swayed slightly, and he subconsciously grabbed Zhu Gaosui's arm next to him to steady himself.

Known for his benevolence, composure, and self-control, he had just been worried about "aiding the enemy," but after listening to Zhu Zhanjun's analysis, he felt a chill run down his spine.

How is this aiding the enemy?

This is clearly murder without bloodshed, and the destruction of a nation without a knife!

He opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but found his throat dry and was momentarily speechless.

The look in his eyes as he gazed at Zhu Zhanjun was filled with unprecedented shock.

How exactly does this child's brain work?

The brothers Zhu Gaoxu and Zhu Gaosui were completely dumbfounded.

Zhu Gaoxu's eyes widened like copper bells, his mouth slightly open. He looked at Zhu Zhanjun, then at Zhu Di, and then turned to look at Zhu Gaochi, who was equally shocked.

The passionate thoughts that had just lingered in his mind—"to march straight to the national gate" and "to hold the Japanese king accountable"—made him realize that his method was as crude as a country bumpkin throwing wild punches when compared to his son's.

In his excitement, he suddenly pushed the bicycle in his hand.

"Zhanjun, what a brilliant plan!"

With a snap, the bicycle fell to the ground, and the brake lever broke.

Zhu Zhanjun: "..."

You son of a bitch, you're going to lose money.

Zhu Gaosui subconsciously rubbed his arms.

Damn, this kid is really cunning.

Is he seven years old?

Yang Rong, as a senior cabinet minister, was the most meticulous.

He quickly mentally reconstructed the entire plan described by Zhu Zhanjun.

Acquiring sulfur, attracting labor, neglecting agriculture, creating dependence, controlling the lifeline, and sanctioning collapse... each step is interconnected, exploiting the human instinct for profit and Japan's own weaknesses, making it almost impossible to solve.

This is by no means a conspiracy or trick, but a "open strategy" based on profound economic insights and long-term strategic planning!

Once it's started, even if some people in Japan can see it, they'll probably have no choice but to swallow it up. They can't stop the Japanese people and the powerful elites with vested interests.

Upon understanding this, Yang Rong felt a bead of cold sweat appear on his forehead. His gaze towards Zhu Zhanjun was no longer merely one of admiration, but also one of deep awe and apprehension.

With such wisdom and strategy, how could that eldest grandson of the emperor possibly be a match for him?

The air seemed to have frozen for a long time.

Finally, Zhu Di let out a long breath.

He looked Zhu Zhanjun up and down with a complicated expression, as if he were getting to know his grandson for the first time.

"Zhan Jun, na..."

"What...what led you to this scheme?"

"They must have been planning this for a long time."

Zhu Zhanjun blinked, looking completely innocent.

"No, that's not it."

"We came up with this idea when we were dealing with the Japanese pirates, and we're only putting it to use today."

"I only spent two or three days thinking about it at the time."

Upon hearing this, everyone looked at each other in bewilderment.

Damn, this kid is defying the heavens!

You can come up with an unsolvable, openly clever scheme in just two or three days?

Zhu Di was also stunned, and for a moment he didn't know how to respond.

No, you're making us look silly.

They were stunned when they saw Zhu Di and the others.

Zhu Zhanjun looked shy again.

"Hehe, Grandpa Emperor, I was just kidding."

"How could such a meticulously planned scheme have only taken two or three days?"

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this.

Oh, I see.

Thankfully, my self-esteem was saved.

Zhu Di stroked his beard and nodded slightly.

"Regardless of how many days it takes, Zhan Jun is truly commendable for coming up with this method."

Zhu Zhanjun blinked.

"I was just kidding, Grandpa Emperor."

"Actually, it only took the time it takes for an incense stick to burn."

"I only came up with this idea after hearing that Scholar Yang came to report it."

[Ding! You have obtained a golden treasure chest!]

Everyone: "..."

Zhu Di's smile was also stiff.

This kid is messing with them.

He took a deep breath.

"In any case, Zhanjun, your method has been a great help to the Emperor."

"I've wanted to teach those short, ugly bastards a lesson for a long time!"

"However, the journey is long and arduous, and the cost of conquering the seas is enormous, so there is constant opposition from the court."

"Your 'sulfur chain' plan has managed to strangle them and destroy their foundation without firing a single shot. Brilliant, truly brilliant!"

Zhu Zhanjun shook his head and said.

"Grandpa Emperor, no one knows more about customs than me!"

Upon hearing this, everyone looked at each other in bewilderment.

The true Ming Dynasty's Know-It-All King.

Zhu Di turned to Yang Rong and decisively ordered: "Minister Yang, immediately convey my decree: Instruct the Ministry of Rites to receive the Japanese envoys, grant them permission to pay tribute, and clearly state to them that the Ming Dynasty is willing to purchase sulfur at market price, as much as they can! Order them to open numerous mines in Japan exclusively to supply the needs of the Ming Dynasty!"

"Yes!" Yang Rong bowed in response, but couldn't help asking, "Your Majesty, if the Japanese inquire about the acquisition period and quantity..."

Zhu Di glanced at Zhu Zhanjun and sneered, "Tell them that as long as the sulfur is of good quality, the Ming Dynasty will buy it long-term! As for the price, you can discuss it yourselves."

"Your subject obeys the decree!" Yang Rong solemnly accepted the order and then withdrew.

After Zhu Di finished dealing with the matter of the Japanese envoy, his worries disappeared and he felt a sense of relief.

He turned to look at the "Azure Phoenix" bicycles, his interest was piqued again, and he waved his hand and said, "Zhanjun's bicycle is quite novel. I was not quite satisfied with it earlier."

"Let's go, father and sons, ride these bicycles around the palace and let the guards and servants see what's going on!"

Upon hearing this, Zhu Gaochi immediately chimed in, "Father is right! I didn't get enough of riding just now, and I was just about to try again!"

Zhu Gaosui grinned and said, "Father, this time I'll ride steadily and definitely won't fall again!"

Zhu Gaochi was already overweight, and he had worked up a sweat while testing the ride, so he was quite tired at the moment.

Seeing that Zhu Di was in high spirits, and his second and third brothers were eager to try, he dared not spoil the fun. He could only force a smile, cup his hands and say, "Your subject... also wishes to accompany Father Emperor on this journey."

Zhu Zhanjun's eyes lit up, and he chuckled, "Grandpa, I'll pick out the most stable one for you!"

He then stepped forward, helped up the bicycle that Zhu Gaoxu had just pushed to the ground, and handed it to Zhu Di.

After a while.

Zhu Di took the lead, mounted the "Azure Phoenix," tucked the hem of his black dragon robe into his waistband, gripped the handlebars firmly with both hands, and pushed off with his feet, propelling the chariot forward nimbly.

He rode quite skillfully, his back straight, his eyes sharp, the wheels rolling over the palace bricks with a regular "rumble" sound.

Zhu Gaoxu followed closely behind; he was strong and vigorous, and rode with great speed and power.

"Father, please slow down! Wait for your son!"

This time, Zhu Gaosui learned his lesson. Although he started slowly, he proceeded steadily and cautiously, following Zhu Gaoxu side by side, staring intently at the road ahead, afraid of making a fool of himself again.

Zhu Gaochi was helped by two eunuchs to his left and right as he struggled to get onto the carriage seat.

He was a large man, and the bicycle looked particularly small, as if the wheels had sunk down.

He took a breath and slowly pedaled, the bike moving forward at a snail's pace, beads of sweat soon appearing on his forehead again.

Zhu Zhanjun himself nimbly rode another bicycle and leisurely followed along the side of the group.

The procession moved slowly along the palace road. Wherever it passed, the guards, palace maids, and eunuchs were all dumbfounded and knelt down to pay their respects, but they couldn't help but steal glances at it.

His Majesty and the princes were actually riding these strange two-wheeled carriages that didn't require horses to tour the palace!

This is truly something I've never heard of or seen before!

Zhu Di was in a great mood, and in the warm afternoon breeze, he even hummed a tune from his northern expedition.

We rode past the Wenhua Hall, around the Wuying Hall, and headed towards the West Garden.

Seeing this, Zhu Gaoxu laughed loudly, "Father, why don't we take a walk around the West Garden Lake? The scenery there is beautiful!"

Zhu Di nodded: "Granted!"

He then turned the car around.

Zhu Gaosui hurriedly turned the carriage, but in his haste, the carriage veered slightly, causing Zhu Gaoxu to burst into laughter.

Zhu Gaochi was already drenched in sweat, but he had no choice but to grit his teeth and keep up, secretly lamenting his predicament.

Although this car is faster than walking, it's really not friendly to fat people.

As Zhu Zhanjun rode on his bicycle, he looked at the scene before him and couldn't help but feel a little emotional.

The reason why the Emperor was in the mood to ride a bicycle today, besides having a way to deal with the Japanese, was probably because it was the first time that the father and sons had played around so carefree.

Running in the sunset—that's the lost youth of the middle-aged and elderly.

I wonder if, many years later, when facing the firing squad, his uncle will remember that distant afternoon when his grandfather took them for a bike ride.

Thinking about it this way, he seemed to feel the great power of history and time intersecting.

Zhu Zhanjun was so excited that he couldn't help but shout.

"Let's make a grand escape, facing the sunlight!"

A commotion arose in the distance.

"Holy crap, where's the brake lever?"

"Quick, stop me!"

Zhu Di shouted loudly and rushed towards the lake ahead, his face pale.

His hands frantically searched for the brake lever, but he couldn't find it, and he was at a loss for what to do.

Zhu Gaochi's eyes widened as he watched Zhu Di gesturing wildly on the bicycle, and he said anxiously.

"Father, what are you doing? Brake the car right now!"

Zhu Di shouted loudly.

"I don't even know what I'm doing."