Ming Dynasty: Evolution from snake to national guardian beast

Chapter 21 Zhu Yuanzhang’s Warning
  "How is the store layout going?"

"Of course there are shops. His Highness Prince Yan has prepared eight shops in Beiping Mansion."

The old monk replied:

"However, I am still very worried. If His Majesty refuses to give this thing to King Yan for sale, what should we do?"

Bai Chu shook his head. Bai Chu knew what kind of person Zhu Yuanzhang was.

He is ruthless towards others and will kill whenever there is a threat. Either he will not take action or he will kill when he does.

However, when it comes to his children, Zhu Yuanzhang always shows a compassionate look.

It has to be said that Zhu Yuanzhang's protection of his son is definitely one of the best in the history of China.

Zhu Yuanzhang dedicated all his kindness to his children and wife.

It can be said that Zhu Yuanzhang was as cold as ice to his ministers, but to his son, Zhu Yuanzhang was as warm as the spring breeze.

Bai Chu was sure that Zhu Yuanzhang would never stop Zhu Di from selling briquettes.

After all, this thing is very beneficial and harmless to civilians.

"According to heaven's decree, the emperor issued an edict."

"In view of Zhu Di's contribution to the welfare of all people in the world by making briquettes, he is specially rewarded with thirty thousand taels of silver."

"I hope that King Zhu Di of Yan can be kind to all people in the world and use his briquettes to benefit all people."

"Appreciate this!!"

A high-pitched voice sounded, and a young eunuch was reading the imperial edict outside Prince Yan's palace.

At the entrance of Prince Yan's Mansion, a large circle of people knelt and cheered, headed by Prince Yan Zhu Di and Princess Yan Xu Miaoyun.

When Zhu Di heard Zhu Yuanzhang's decree, he immediately smiled, stood up quickly, took the imperial edict in his hand, and read it carefully.

Zhu Di was waiting for this moment.

Now that Zhu Di has gained Zhu Yuanzhang's appreciation and recognition, it's time for him to do something big.

Bai Chu walked to the little eunuch silently and started chatting with him.

"Father-in-law, you have worked hard all the way. Come in and have some tea."

Seeing Bai Chu's extraordinary bearing and extraordinary conversation, the young eunuch thought he was a big shot in Prince Yan's palace.

"Where, where."

Upon seeing this, Zhu Di quickly walked to the young eunuch, invited him into his mansion, and helped him receive the wind and wash away the dust.

The little eunuch obviously did not expect that he would be favored by King Yan. He looked dizzy and was invited to the flower hall.

In Zhu Yuanzhang's ancestral precepts of the Emperor Ming Dynasty, there is a clear provision that eunuchs cannot participate in political affairs.

What Zhu Yuanzhang hated most was eunuchs, which is why their status in the palace was so low.

The most important thing is that in the current Ming Dynasty, those who can think of becoming eunuchs are really desperate, so they have no culture and can even be said to be a group of vulgar people.

The rise of eunuchs began with Zhu Zhanji.

In order to shorten the time for reviewing memorials, Zhu Zhanji even sent people to teach the eunuchs how to read. Later, the position of eunuch in charge officially entered the history of the Ming Dynasty, and generations of eunuchs were trained to take charge of the government.

But that's all in the future, and today's eunuchs are just a bunch of losers that no one values.

But this is exactly what Bai Chu likes.

Eunuchs have no say in the palace. If they can be won over, it will be of great benefit to Zhu Di in his future rebellion.

Don't underestimate the eunuchs. The reason why they can control everything in the court is because they are the people closest to the emperor.

That is to say, they can know all the emperor's movements.

Zhu Di took the young eunuch into his mansion and prepared a sumptuous banquet.

He has never been treated like this since he was a child. During the dinner, Zhu Di quietly gave the young eunuch five taels of silver, which made the young eunuch burst into tears and felt grateful to Zhu Di.

Zhu Di took this opportunity to find out Zhu Gaoxu's whereabouts.

After all, the reason why he sent Zhu Gaoxu to the palace was to appease his father so that he could sell him briquettes and stoves.

However, now that the imperial edict has been issued, Zhu Gaoxu is nowhere to be seen, and Zhu Di is still a little uneasy.

The young eunuch immediately told him that Zhu Gaoxu was left behind by Zhu Yuanzhang. As for why, he didn't know.

He only said that Zhu Yuanzhang might have asked him to return after a few days because he missed his grandson Zhu Gaoxu.

But Zhu Di also knew that this matter was not that easy. Zhu Yuanzhang never meant to imprison his sons or grandsons for the vassal kings everywhere.

After all, Zhu Yuanzhang probably did this to warn the kings and ask them to keep their sons in the capital. This was a warning.

Zhu Di felt a little uncomfortable in his heart, but he did not dare to show it on the surface. Instead, he drank alone with the little eunuch.

Taking advantage of this opportunity, Zhu Di asked him about Zhu Yuanzhang's current situation.

Hearing that Zhu Yuanzhang was old and frail and his eyes were dim, Zhu Di also felt sad.

Finally, Zhu Di took him to a room in Prince Yan's Mansion to let him rest.

Zhu Di, on the other hand, called Bai Chu and the old monk into his secret room.

"Why did Your Majesty leave Gao Xu in Yingtian City?"

The old monk's expression remained unchanged and he said slowly:

"It must have been the honeycomb charcoal and stove that aroused the emperor's vigilance."

"His Majesty's health is deteriorating. I'm afraid his time is running out."

"The emperor must not want any accidents to occur during this period. Therefore, His Majesty's intention is to let Zhu Yunwen inherit the throne."

Zhu Di nodded in agreement, but Zhu Gaoxu was still in the capital, which made Zhu Di somewhat worried.

"Now what?"

"Do you still sell briquettes?"

Bai Chu said categorically:
  "Of course it's business as usual."

"This is just speculation, maybe the situation is not so bad."

"His Majesty has made a decree, we just have to follow it."

"If we continue to be scrupulous, then not only will the financial resources of the Yan Palace be in trouble, but even the people in the Western Mountains may starve because of this matter."

"The sale of briquettes is a must. This is the beginning of Your Highness's domination of the world. Don't hesitate, Your Highness."

Yao Guangxiao echoed:
  "What Mr. Bai said is absolutely true. It should not be delayed."

"It's November now, when the weather is at its coldest, and we can take the opportunity to sell the coal."

"When the emperor sees the effect of coal, I believe Gao Xu will be back soon."

After hearing what the two military advisors said, Zhu Di no longer hesitated and said directly:

"Tomorrow, I will open all the shops and officially sell coal in the city."

"I think my father will understand my good intentions when he sees that the people are no longer suffering from the cold."

"Good!" everyone responded in unison.

The old monk clasped his hands together and praised.

On the second day, in the busiest city center of Peiping, eight big shops suddenly opened their doors, and the sound of firecrackers spread throughout Peking Mansion.

(End of this chapter)