They arrived at the Palace of Heavenly Purity.
Zhu Yuntong stood quietly before Zhu Yuanzhang, like a child who knew he had done wrong.
Seeing his unruly grandson suddenly so quiet, Zhu Yuanzhang found it rather unfamiliar. He still preferred the lawless, outrageously bold grandson he knew.
"You willingly gave up everything just to save Lan Yu."
Zhu Yuanzhang sighed. "You really do have some nerve!"
Zhu Yuntong said softly, "I admit there was an element of gambling involved. I gambled that you wouldn't go that far, Imperial Grandfather, and that Zhu Yunwen and the others wouldn't dare use this to force my hand."
"Ha ha..."
Zhu Yuanzhang smiled faintly, then said, "In fact, your gamble paid off. Just now, I saw that Lan Yu was almost moved to tears."
"Actually, I never intended to kill Lan Yu."
"That old scoundrel isn't easy to kill, and he can't be killed for now. After turning it over in my mind, I decided to keep him."
He had made his plans long ago.
Even if Lan Yu's crimes had been proven today, he would not have killed him. That was how he wielded power.
Zhu Yuntong knew why he would not kill him. "First, Lan Yu's military achievements truly are illustrious. Killing him would chill the hearts of the officers and soldiers. Second, it's still because of my meddling. Unless you have grounds to take Fu Youde, Feng Sheng, and the others down along with Lan Yu, you can't kill him. Am I right, Imperial Grandfather?"
If Lan Yu died while Fu Youde and the others remained alive, that would be a problem.
The consequences would be severe.
After all, Fu Youde and the others would know that Zhu Yuanzhang wanted to kill them. Would they simply sit and wait for death?
"So you do know you've been meddling, you unruly grandson!"
Zhu Yuanzhang was not angry. Instead, he laughed.
He had not expected Zhu Yuntong to have thought of everything he himself had considered.
So the gamble had paid off.
Once again, he was certain that his unruly grandson was capable.
To accomplish this without anyone teaching him was far better than anything Zhu Yunwen could manage.
He was the most suitable candidate to become emperor.
"I had no other choice either."
Zhu Yuntong smiled.
Zhu Yuanzhang continued, "I won't kill Lan Yu, but he can forget about remaining Duke of Liang. I'll leave him his military post for now. Don't be fooled by how you've moved him almost to tears. The human heart is the most complicated thing of all, especially in a man like Lan Yu."
Zhu Yuntong nodded. "I understand. Lan Yu has spent many years in the army and commands great prestige. Of everyone at court now, he is the most capable military commander. Even if he were reduced to a commoner, he could return to camp as a commoner and still lead away soldiers from our Great Ming army."
"Exactly!"
Zhu Yuanzhang spoke gravely.
He wanted to kill Lan Yu, along with that group of Huai-Western Generals.
It was not merely because he feared Zhu Yunwen could not keep them in check. Their influence within the army was also too great.
Military officers were different from civil officials.
If civil officials wished to seize power and rebel, they still had to rely on the court, turning themselves into powerful ministers step by step until they could hollow out imperial authority.
For military officers, it was much simpler.
They only had to raise their troops.
They had prestige and military command. Raising troops in rebellion would be effortless.
"You've thought of everything I could think of. Very good!"
Zhu Yuanzhang was truly pleased with this unruly grandson. He added, "Lan Yu can live, but all those adopted sons of his must die. They have no regard for anyone and won't even obey your commands. You will be responsible for killing them. First, weaken some of the forces around Lan Yu."
"You need to establish your authority. Your prestige in the army is still insufficient."
"Do you dare?"
Zhu Yuanzhang asked.
After all, this unruly grandson had never killed anyone. He had only wounded two guards.
"I dare!"
Zhu Yuntong had initially wondered whether he could bring those adopted sons into his service.
But he quickly dismissed the thought.
They truly had no place for him in their hearts, and they truly deserved to die.
These men were burdens anyway. Keeping them served no purpose.
"I'll count today's test as a pass."
Zhu Yuanzhang patted Zhu Yuntong's hand, then said, "But there is a second test. The Huai-Western Generals are too large a bloc and need to be divided. As for how to divide them, I won't help you. You must do it yourself."
He was now focusing his tests on Zhu Yuntong, while his attention to Zhu Yunwen gradually faded.
Zhu Yuntong mattered more.
If they truly could not be divided, he would find an excuse in a couple of years and take them all down in one sweep. As long as Zhu Yuntong had another two years to develop, he should no longer need those Huai-Western Generals.
I should still be able to teach this unruly grandson for a few more years, Zhu Yuanzhang thought.
The most important thing was still to help Zhu Yuntong establish his authority.
"I understand."
Of course Zhu Yuntong knew that the Huai-Western Generals still had their misgivings.
Lan Yu had been moved beyond measure, but that was only temporary. He had not yet been won over completely.
There was still a great deal to do.
Contending for the succession truly was no easy matter.
"The civil officials and military officers at court are actually in competition with one another."
"By letting them struggle against one another, Imperial Grandfather, you are maintaining a balance. You won't suppress the military officers as the Great Song did, because without military officers, Great Ming will sooner or later follow in the Great Song's footsteps."
"But if the military officers gain too much power, you fear another Chenqiao mutiny, with a yellow robe draped over someone's shoulders."
"Besides, having those two sides check each other is still not enough."
"You also bring the princely lords into the equation. Against outside threats, they can repel foreign enemies and guard the Son of Heaven. At home, they can restrain the military officers, while the military officers can also counterbalance the princes and prevent their ambitions from growing too great."
"Everything is part of your plan, Imperial Grandfather."
As someone who had transmigrated, Zhu Yuntong had foreknowledge of these matters.
In one stroke, he laid bare what Zhu Yuanzhang had been thinking.
"Exactly!"
Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes lit up, and he secretly rejoiced.
This unruly grandson truly was meeting more and more of his requirements for an emperor.
But there was no hurry yet. He could not let his grandson get carried away. He needed to use Zhu Yunwen to put pressure on him and continue honing him.
As for whether leaving the position of crown prince unfilled would destabilize the country?
Zhu Yuanzhang was confident. With him here, how could there possibly be instability?
With him here, who out there would dare stir up trouble?
Whoever caused disorder would die!
Zhu Yuanzhang sighed. "You really knew how to hide yourself before. Even I was fooled."
"In a little while, I'll issue a decree revoking the title of Duke of Liang and let Lan Yu retain his post as grand general for now. All those adopted sons of his will be handed over to you to deal with. That will do for the moment."
"I have nothing else for you."
"You've passed today's test."
"Don't get conceited, though. You didn't actually handle it all that well. Still, kneeling at the end to plead for Lan Yu did indeed move him. As for releasing him, we'll discuss that after you've killed them all."
He waved a hand. "All right, go back for now! I still have plenty to do!"
An entire morning had been delayed, and he still had a great deal of state business to handle.
"I'll take my leave, then."
Zhu Yuntong bowed and withdrew from the Palace of Heavenly Purity.
Once outside, the cool breeze cleared his head considerably.
This step had been somewhat perilous. Fortunately, he had been able to stride across it, so all was well.
"I'll go back and calm down first."
Zhu Yuntong muttered to himself.
He really did not want to return to the Eastern Palace, but without going there, he had nowhere else to go. He would just have to return and stay there for now. When he felt around on his person, however, the token was still there. He had not returned it to Old Zhu.
With this token, I can leave the palace whenever I want.
Zhu Yuntong looked at the token and thought with delight.
To kill Tang Da and the others, he would also need to use the token to leave the palace and arrange for men to carry out the killings.
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