Chapter 16

"During the Hongwu reign, the Six Ministries' Ministers were originally of the third rank, but were promoted to the first rank."

"Officials of the Imperial Stud Farm and other bureaus, originally of the sixth rank, were all promoted to the fifth rank."

"Exempting Commander Commander Jiang and Zhejiang from taxes, restoring ancient royal governance, intending to revive the Well-Field System of the pre-Qin era..."

Reading this, Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yuanzhang suddenly understood why Su Qiao had told Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yunwen to execute these fellows.

As long as he himself was still alive.

If they dared show even a hint of such ideas about restoring ancient royal governance.

Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yuanzhang would never allow these three scoundrels to serve as Regent Ministers!

The Well-Field System, indeed!

From ancient times to the present, how many who implemented the Well-Field System met a good end?

The last one to implement the Well-Field System, Wang Mang, had his head chopped off and hung within the Eastern Han palace for three hundred years!

And reforming the official system.

Could this be called reforming the official system?

It might as well have been written on their foreheads: rewards based on merit.

Promoting one or two individuals would have been one thing.

But directly raising the rank of official positions was essentially sending a grand gift to every civil official in the realm!

And in the end.

Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yuanzhang firmly made up his mind.

Su Qiao could not be left idle!

At least while scoundrels like Huang Huang Zicheng and Qi Tai were still alive.

He absolutely could not be left idle!

If he carelessly left Su Qiao idle.

Then scoundrels like Huang Huang Zicheng would seize the opportunity and truly relegate Su Qiao to being a commoner for life!

Just as Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yuanzhang was pondering the foundation of the Great Ming state.

Huang Huang Zicheng, Qi Tai, and Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yunwen, the trio, had already arrived at the Imperial Prison.

At the main gate of the Imperial Prison.

Commander Commander Jiang Huai looked at Huang Huang Zicheng with utter confusion and asked.

"Lord Huang? What, what brings you to the Imperial Prison?"

Commander Commander Jiang Huai had arrested many people.

But this was the first time someone had voluntarily come to his door.

Huang Huang Zicheng glanced at Commander Commander Jiang Huai with some disdain and said.

"Do you think I enjoy coming to your place?!"

"Step aside quickly! A noble person is coming today to visit a prisoner!"

Following Huang Huang Zicheng's gaze, Commander Commander Jiang Huai immediately spotted Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yunwen standing behind him, clad in a black cloak.

"His Highness the Crown Prince?"

"But does His Majesty have an imperial decree..."

Huang Huang Zicheng's eyes widened, staring fiercely at Commander Commander Jiang Huai as he demanded harshly.

"What of His Majesty's decree? Can His Majesty not be deceived by the likes of you?"

"Move aside! Are you afraid that your mistreatment of ministers inside will be witnessed by His Highness the Crown Prince, who will then impeach your Embroidered Uniform Guard upon his return?!"

The moment Huang Huang Zicheng finished speaking.

The group of Embroidered Uniform Guards behind him immediately placed their hands on the Brocade Spring Swords at their waists.

Had Commander Commander Jiang Huai given the order.

They could have seized Huang Huang Zicheng instantly.

Commander Commander Jiang Huai looked at the aggressive Huang Huang Zicheng, his lips trembling slightly.

In the end, he reluctantly raised his hand.

"Let them pass!"

The group of Embroidered Uniform Guards immediately withdrew.

Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yunwen was, after all, Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yuanzhang's designated Crown Prince.

With the position of heir apparent not yet formally settled, Commander Commander Jiang Huai did not dare to easily offend him.

Thus, surrounded by Huang Huang Zicheng, Qi Tai, and others, Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yunwen slowly entered the Imperial Prison, where he found Su Qiao lying bored on a bed of straw.

At that moment, Su Qiao was perplexed.

Whether Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yuanzhang intended to kill him or not.

Just don't keep imprisoning me indefinitely!

Being locked up forever is so disgusting!

"Su Qiao! Look who has come to visit you!"

Su Qiao lifted his head with a look of confusion.

Immediately, he spotted Huang Huang Zicheng, Qi Tai, and Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yunwen standing outside the cell, watching him.

The moment he saw Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yunwen.

Su Qiao felt as though he had seen light.

Who doesn't know that your Old Zhu dotes on his grandson!

Your Highness, the Crown Prince's Son.

For the sake of my happy life.

My apologies!

Eighteen, slap Huang Huang Zicheng!

"Audacious Su Qiao, you dare not bow before His Highness, the Crown Prince's Son?"

Huang Huang Zicheng opened his mouth and let out a thunderous shout.

Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yunwen, however, adopted an air of respecting the worthy and humbling himself toward scholars, playing the role of the good cop.

"Mr. Su need not perform the rites."

Having spoken, Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yunwen let out a long sigh and said,

"There are some misunderstandings between myself and Mr. Su that must be cleared up."

"Mr. Su, it is evident that you hold some misconceptions regarding my policy of reducing the feudal princes."

"Yet I also know that your heart is concerned with the welfare of all people under heaven."

Huang Huang Zicheng and Qi Tai immediately chimed in agreement.

"Su Qiao, you must understand that His Highness, the Crown Prince's Son, holds the rightful position of the Eastern Palace; he is the foundation of the Great Ming state."

"I truly cannot comprehend why you would speak on behalf of the Prince of Yan."

"Once His Highness ascends the throne, he will wield the power of the entire realm against a mere corner; how then has it become such a dismal affair in your words!"

Su Qiao looked quietly at Huang Huang Zicheng and smiled, saying,

"Does Lord Huang truly wish to know?"

Hearing this, Huang Huang Zicheng was momentarily stunned.

"Oh? Then I must trouble Young Lord Su to explain this official's doubts."

Su Qiao beckoned Huang Huang Zicheng forward with a teasing curl of his finger, saying,

"I invite Lord Huang to step closer to speak."

Seeing this, Huang Huang Zicheng was startled, then immediately turned his gaze toward Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yunwen beside him.

Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yunwen saw that Su Qiao's attitude had softened somewhat.

Naturally, his heart was filled with great joy.

He immediately spoke to the jailers not far away,

"Why are you all standing there dumbfounded? Hurry forward and open the cell door!"

The few jailers looked at each other in bewilderment, but could only step forward to open the door.

In any case.