Chapter 12

They will only be loyal to the Son of Heaven!

Even if they are no longer needed, as long as the Emperor gives a slight glance.

There are plenty of people who would rather eat their flesh and sleep on their skin!

The Emperor wouldn't even need to worry about tarnishing his posthumous reputation!

Thinking this, Zhu Yuanzhang's gaze toward Su Qiao gradually revealed a hint of appreciation.

Su Qiao, noticing Old Zhu's look, was completely stunned.

What's going on?

Don't tell me Old Zhu has some issues with his sexual orientation!

What kind of look is that!

Su Qiao's forehead inevitably beaded with fine sweat.

Then he stared fixedly at the crowd before him and asked

"Do you all think this is over?"

"No!"

"Your Majesty, let us take ten thousand steps back."

"The Crown Prince has no intention of reducing the fiefs, and the ministers have no advice to reduce the fiefs!"

"May I ask Your Majesty, even if the Son of Heaven harbors no suspicion, could it be that the feudal lords of the world would not harbor suspicion?"

"At that time, every time the lords entered the court, they would think the Crown Prince was about to reduce their fiefs."

"Every meeting of the royal clan would inevitably be tense with hostility."

"Is this the affectionate relationship between relatives that Your Majesty desires?"

"Your Majesty must know that only when there is no threat, no conflict of interest, and there are common interests, can there be affectionate relationships!"

"But once there is a conflict of interest, it will surely be a fight to the death!"

"And the chair Your Majesty sits upon is the greatest conflict of interest between the Great Ming feudal lords and the Crown Prince!"

"Therefore, even if the Crown Prince has no intention of reducing the fiefs, the feudal lords of the world will inevitably harbor rebellious intentions!"

"And the rebellious intentions of the feudal lords will, in turn, force the Crown Prince to reduce the fiefs!"

Zhu Yuanzhang was already stunned in place by Su Qiao's aura.

After a long while, Zhu Yuanzhang finally came to his senses.

He couldn't help but silently exclaim "Excellent!" in his heart.

Su Qiao's analysis was absolutely brilliant, with flawless logic.

The only flaw.

Was that Su Qiao was talking about Old Zhu's own family matters.

It would have been better if this were about some foreign barbarian state of a neighboring country.

Old Zhu would definitely watch this spectacle from start to finish...

12, Lan Yu is doomed to die!

After a long while.

Zhu Yuanzhang finally came to his senses.

He forcibly suppressed the displeasure in his heart.

Looking at Su Qiao, he asked

"If so, let us assume that reducing the fiefs is inevitable. Then why can't the feudal lords of our Great Ming obediently hand over their military power and return to this Jingcheng to become peaceful Princes?"

As soon as these words were spoken.

Su Qiao couldn't hold back and let out a "Pfft" laugh.

Seeing this, Huang Zicheng and others immediately stepped forward and scolded

"Su Qiao! You, what are you doing?"

"Do you dare to mock Your Majesty?"

Zhu Yuanzhang gritted his teeth, looking at Su Qiao and said

"Continue speaking!"

The corner of Huang Zicheng's mouth twitched slightly.

He looked at Zhu Yuanzhang with a truly bewildered expression.

Is this really the usual Old Zhu?

Could it be that this surnamed Su boy has bewitched Your Majesty with a charm potion?!

Su Qiao looked at Zhu Yuanzhang helplessly and asked

"May I ask Your Majesty, do you... do you yourself believe this statement?"

"Let alone whether the Crown Prince wants the various feudal lords to be peaceful Princes."

"Even the feudal lords themselves, do they want to be peaceful Princes?"

"A General who charges across the battlefield, if he is not defeated, how could there be any reason for him to dismount and be bound!"

Zhu Yuanzhang looked at Su Qiao coldly.

"Then according to your words, there must be a battle between my son and my grandson, and the Great Ming Jiangshan will surely suffer devastation, correct?"

Clearly, Su Qiao's words had already touched Old Zhu's bottom line.

And judging from the news of "Chongzhen".

The Great Ming had already passed through ten generations after that.

Clearly, this battle did not damage the Great Ming's vitality at all!

Just as Zhu Yuanzhang's killing intent was gradually rising.

Su Qiao, however, could no longer hold it together.

"Your Majesty's words are mistaken."

"This subject can now declare that this battle will not only be fought extremely quickly, but will not even damage Great Ming's vital essence in the slightest!"

The moment these words came out, Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes instantly bulged wide.

He asked in disbelief

"How so! How so!"

These few words from Zhu Yuanzhang were practically shouted out.

Su Qiao, meeting him point for point, declared in a clear voice

"Your Majesty, in the case of Hu Wei alone, more than ten of my Great Ming's Huaixi Twenty-Four Generals were implicated."

"This subject has heard that Duke of Liang Lan Yu is also awaiting punishment at home."

"If the Lan Yu case breaks, Your Majesty must not forget that my Great Ming's second generation of war generals largely came from beneath Duke of Liang's banner. If Duke of Liang's case breaks, what generals capable of fighting will Great Ming have left!"

"When that time comes, if Prince Yan raises his troops, who in court does Your Majesty think can stop Prince Yan?"

"Duke of Cao? Duke of Wei?"

A single sentence from Su Qiao.

Directly left Zhu Yuanzhang speechless.

The fact that he himself had killed too many people was undeniable.

Prince Yan Zhu Di was inherently a capable and battle-hardened commander.

Especially after Lan Yu's military authority had been stripped.

Apart from Geng Bingwen, who could ensure the court would not be defeated, Zhu Yuanzhang truly could not think of anyone else who could stop Zhu Di!

But Zhu Yuanzhang, whose thoughts had been seen through by Su Qiao, was like a fox whose tail had been stepped on.

He immediately stood up excitedly and roared

"Lan Yu is merely idling at home! When have I ever said I would punish Lan Yu?! This is utter nonsense!"

Seeing Zhu Yuanzhang fly into a rage.

Su Qiao was instantly overjoyed.

He could not help but add fuel to the fire at once.

"Because Lan Yu must die!"

"After the passing of Crown Prince Yiwen, Duke of Liang was already in a doomed situation!"

Zhu Yuanzhang was stunned upon hearing this.