Ming Dynasty: What's wrong with being a leisurely crown prince?

Chapter 42 Your Majesty, please curb your ambition and not gamble with the fate of the nation!

Zhu Di looked intently at Zhu Gaochi. He thought to himself, "So that's why this person praised me so much. He was waiting for this."

He said, "How come this person has changed their personality? It's rare that they didn't argue with me. Turns out, they were planning to argue with me in a big way."

At this moment, Zhu Di finally realized that this was the real Zhu Gaochi; his words were like poison.

Although he was very angry, Zhu Di found that he didn't seem to be that angry after all.

Having been rebuked by Zhu Gaochi many times, Zhu Di's adaptability has improved considerably.

But Zhu Gaochi still felt uncomfortable hearing him say that.

"Boss, you're really different now. Your mouth is like a sharp tongue."

"Really? Then thank you for the compliment, Father."

Zhu Gaochi not only didn't show any humility, but instead grinned and even knew how to be modest.

Zhu Di looked at Zhu Gaochi, who seemed to genuinely believe he was being praised, and his anger subsided somewhat.

Is this person unable to distinguish between good and bad words? Do they really think he's praising them?

Zhu Di realized that talking to this person about these things was completely unnecessary.

I also wanted to test what this person was thinking, and see if I could lower their guard so they could confide in me properly.

Now it seems impossible.

So-called heart-to-heart talks can't get this person to open up at all.

Seeing that this method wouldn't work, Zhu Di no longer hesitated.

"Boss, tell me, what exactly did you and Second Brother mean by what you were saying?"

Zhu Gaochi smiled when he saw Zhu Di suddenly change the subject, his expression calm.

Sure enough, his repeated criticisms of Zhu Di did have an effect.

Look, Zhu Di isn't as furious as he was a couple of days ago, isn't that a good thing?

It's just that Zhu Di didn't know what Zhu Gaochi was thinking, otherwise he would have given the man a good beating.

"Father, actually, I'm trying to help you with this."

"Hmm? Help me?"

Zhu Di was momentarily stunned and didn't react at all.

Zhu Gaochi continued, "Yes, Father, didn't you want to build Beiping? I've now sounded out the second son's idea for you, and he supports it."

Moreover, the second son is trying to solve some problems in the construction of Beiping. It's rare for him to start using his brain. What else would I be doing if not helping him?

If I hadn't told the second brother all that, would he have told you so much?

Seeing Zhu Gaochi's well-meaning expression, Zhu Di's eyelids twitched, and he immediately burst out laughing.

"Hehe, boss, how come I never noticed before how thick-skinned you are?"

So this is how you helped me? What are you still doing sitting there?

Get up and get out of here!

Seeing Zhu Di's impatient expression, Zhu Gaochi quickly stood up.

"Dad, just say it, why are you getting so worked up again?"

By the way, should I continue handling state affairs?

"What, do you think I would come begging you to handle state affairs?"

If you don't want to deal with state affairs, then don't!

Zhu Di's forehead veins throbbed; did he really need to be asked about this?

Originally, if this person had just gone back, nothing would have happened. Now that he's brought it up, they want him to beg Zhu Gaochi to become the crown prince?

He won't tolerate this person.

Upon hearing this, Zhu Gaochi ignored Zhu Di's angry expression and tried his best to control himself from laughing.

"Father, I understand. I'll head back now."

Watching Zhu Gaochi hurriedly slip away until he was completely gone, Zhu Di couldn't help but laugh after a long while.

He had seen Zhu Gaochi's clumsy performance just now.

But then I got a headache.

He knew how much Zhu Gaochi valued the position of crown prince in the past.

But now, hearing that he was told not to deal with state affairs, this man became excited and suddenly had less of an obsession with the position.

I initially thought Zhu Gaochi was faking it, but the things he did didn't seem to be fake.

This person would come and criticize him all day long, as if afraid that his feelings for Zhu Gaochi would improve.

Now he really seems to have no interest in state affairs, and Zhu Di is somewhat unsure whether Zhu Gaochi is truly tired of it.

This is why he didn't say things like "change the crown prince" as he used to, because he was a little afraid that the other person would actually agree.

"Boss, what exactly are you trying to do?"

Zhu Di pondered for a long time but still couldn't figure out what Zhu Gaochi's purpose was.

Zhu Gaochi's actions are now erratic and his motives are unclear, making him completely unable to understand him.

After thinking about it for a long time without finding a solution, Zhu Di stopped thinking about it.

Taking this opportunity, he wanted to see if Zhu Gaochi really didn't want to deal with these matters.

Thinking of this, Zhu Di suddenly spoke.

"Guards, summon all cabinet ministers and ministers to the palace immediately!"

Didn't Zhu Gaochi seem to have no desire to get involved?

Next, he wanted to see if this person was genuine or just putting on an act for him.

Soon after, a group of people arrived.

The cabinet members included Xie Jin, Hu Guang, Huang Huai, Hu Yan, Jin Youzi, Yang Shiqi, and Yang Rong.

The six ministries were headed by Jian Yi, Minister of Personnel; Xia Yuanji, Minister of Revenue; Lü Zhen, Minister of Justice; Song Li, Minister of Works; Li Zhigang, Minister of Rites; and Jin Zhong, Minister of War.

After exchanging greetings, Zhu Di looked at the crowd below and spoke slowly.

"I have summoned you all here for one matter. I wish to emulate the founding emperor's construction of Fengyang, and thus I am constructing Beiping. What do you all think?"

After he finished speaking, most people were thinking seriously, while Xia Yuanji and Jian Yi frowned deeply.

But at that moment, one person stood up resolutely.

"Your Majesty, I oppose the construction of Beiping!"

"Jie Jin, why are you against it?"

Zhu Di looked at Xie Jin, who was opposing him, with a calm and indifferent gaze.

Xie Jin also looked directly at Zhu Di. He knew Zhu Di's temperament, and at this moment, Zhu Di must be very concerned about his repeated opposition.

But he also had reasons to oppose it.

"Your Majesty, the construction of Beiping is no small matter, and Your Majesty's construction of Beiping is merely a pretext for relocating the capital."

However, the Ming Dynasty is still recovering, and all parts of the country need to recuperate and rebuild.

If the Emperor is to build Beiping, does he know how much corvée labor will be required, whether the Ministry of Revenue can provide the necessary funds and supplies, and whether additional taxes should be levied if the court's finances become strained?

This requires a large amount of manpower, material resources, and financial resources. If the burden of taxes and corvée labor on the people is increased, it will cause public resentment, unrest among the people in various parts of the country, and shake the foundation of the nation!

In addition, the people in the north are now destitute, and the taxes of the Ming Dynasty are almost entirely concentrated in the south, and Yingtian is the most prosperous place in the Ming Dynasty.

If the capital is moved, the imperial court's focus will shift north, and if there are any problems with taxation in the south, the northern capital will run out of food.

Furthermore, Beiping is simply incapable of shouldering this responsibility, and the risks to the supply of food and materials cannot be ignored!

Thirdly, as His Majesty mentioned before, as the Emperor of the Great Ming, it is more effective to defend the country's borders by going to Beiping to resist the threat from the northern Mongols.

However, building Beiping actually put the Ming Dynasty in danger.

If the border is lost, the capital will instantly become the front line, and the country will be in danger of being destroyed!

The remaining Mongol forces can be dealt with simply by strengthening border defenses; there is no need to gamble with the fate of the Ming Dynasty. Furthermore, Your Majesty should restrain your ambition and desire for grandiose achievements.

While it is admirable and heroic for the emperor to guard the nation's gates, he is gambling with the fate of the Ming Dynasty.

As a subject of the Great Ming Dynasty, I should naturally oppose this!