Chapter 5: Exchanging Military Merit for Salary, It Should Be Just Like This!

"Your Majesty."

Hu Weiyong said respectfully at this moment: "The salaries of the imperial clan are the grace of Your Majesty; I imagine they are all grateful for Your Majesty's benevolence!"

A man who could reach the position of Prime Minister naturally knew how to speak the language of officialdom well.

He directly transformed the matter of salaries into the Emperor's grace.

For a moment, the other officials found it difficult not to echo his sentiments.

Zhu Gaoxu looked at the gathered officials and sneered inwardly.

He certainly knew that the chaos at the end of the Ming Dynasty was caused by the nearly one million imperial clansmen.

What was laughable was that among so many talented people in the early Ming, not a single one saw where the problem lay.

Was this the limitation of the era?

Perhaps that was part of the reason.

But more so, even if someone saw it, they dared not offend the entire body of imperial family members because of it.

On the Dragon Throne.

Zhu Yuanzhang looked at the civil and military officials, disappointment appearing on his face.

"Zhu Gaoxu, stop picking your nose!"

He looked at Zhu Gaoxu, who was still picking his nose, and said: "You are so disrespectful in the Great Hall during the morning court; I shall cut off your imperial Annual Salary once you come of age!"

Upon hearing this, Zhu Gaoxu said dismissively: "Grandfather Emperor, I don't care about any Annual Salary anyway; I can earn it with military merit in the future. I want to fight on the battlefield just like my father!"

Once the remark about fighting on the battlefield was made, it immediately drew everyone's gaze once again.

As Prime Minister, Hu Weiyong only felt this was the talk of a child, a newborn calf unafraid of the tiger.

However, Xu Da, who had been silent all along, began to look at him with a different perspective.

Zhu Gaoxu's biological mother was Xu Da's eldest daughter, Xu Miaoyun.

They were all one family.

This time, when entering the capital, it was the first time Zhu Gaoxu had met this grandfather of his.

The first impression Xu Da gave him was one of steadiness, and even a sense of being deep and calculating.

Moreover, this grandfather spoke little, and did not have the heavy battlefield killing intent that Lan Yu possessed.

It could be said he was very restrained.

"Haha!"

Zhu Yuanzhang suddenly laughed, feeling a sense of great gratification.

"You little brat, you are worthy of being of the bloodline of our Lao Zhu family; you have courage and good backbone!"

"Killing enemies on the battlefield and exchanging military merit for salary? It should be just like this!"

"People of our Lao Zhu family ought to be like this!"

"These words have truly made me realize something; you deserve a reward!"

Anyone could see that Zhu Yuanzhang was very happy at this moment.

He had originally been troubled by the fact that millions of imperial clansmen in later generations would be sucking the blood of the masses.

As it turned out, Zhu Gaoxu's words just now had given him quite a few ideas.

It seemed this was not a systemic problem, nor was it a problem with his Lao Zhu family bloodline.

"You little brat!"

Zhu Yuanzhang stood up with a smile and said: "What reward do you want? Speak boldly."

"Hee hee!" Zhu Gaoxu said quite bashfully, "Grandfather Emperor, are you sure you want me to speak boldly?"

"That is natural; a monarch does not speak in jest."

Zhu Gaoxu nodded, then held his head high and said: "Grandfather Emperor, I don't want anything else; just reward me with the position of Conquering Captives General to play with!"

As soon as these words fell, the civil and military officials led by Xu Da were nearly scared to death.

A four-year-old child actually wanted to be the Conquering Captives General?

Was this not a joke!

"Cough, cough!"

The Crown Prince, Zhu Biao, was also frightened by his spoiled nephew's words.

Fortunately, he reacted quickly and immediately said: "Zhu Gaoxu, this is the Great Hall during morning court; stop talking nonsense!"

Zhu Gaoxu blinked innocently: "Then according to what Uncle Crown Prince means, I have nothing more to say."

Zhu Biao: "..."

Zhu Yuanzhang could no longer bear it and shouted toward outside the hall: "Mao Xiang, hang this little brat on a tree for me!"

"Grandfather Emperor, I know I was wrong!"

Hearing this, Zhu Gaoxu could no longer sit still and immediately admitted his mistake.

If he were to be hung on a tree, his little heart could not take it.

But Zhu Yuanzhang would not let him off; soon, Mao Xiang picked up Zhu Gaoxu and carried him out on his shoulder again.

On his shoulder, Zhu Gaoxu flailed about and shouted: "Put me down quickly! Do you know who my father is? Prince of Yan, Zhu Di... Ouch! Let me go! Grandfather! Grandfather, save me!"

Xu Da watched his nose and his nose watched his heart, maintaining an air of detachment, pretending not to hear.

He naturally understood that this reward from His Majesty was not easy to take.

As the Great General of Great Ming, he understood well the principle that when a person stands above the crowd, the crowd will surely resent them.

Attending court at four years old, and now wanting to obtain another reward...

It would inevitably bring some trouble.

On the Dragon Throne, Zhu Yuanzhang naturally saw through Zhu Gaoxu's deliberate little scheme.

Therefore, he was giving a warning.

You don't want to accept it?

Hmph! What I, Lao Zhu, want to give, no one has ever been able to refuse!

"Father Emperor, Gaoxu is young; I ask that Father Emperor merely admonish him."

Zhu Biao hurriedly pleaded for mercy.

He was not angry because of his nephew; in fact, he even felt a sense of gratification.

Killing enemies on the battlefield.

To have such a nephew is a blessing for the Great Ming.

Zhu Yuanzhang waved his hand and said, "It is merely a small punishment to serve as a great warning, rest assured."

Hearing this, Zhu Biao hurriedly bowed: "Your son thanks Father Emperor on behalf of my fourth brother!"

"Today's proceedings are concluded. If there are any objections regarding other matters, submit a memorial. Court dismissed!"

Zhu Yuanzhang waved his hand, and all the civil and military officials bowed and withdrew.

……

Wenhua Hall.

After finding a place to sit, Zhu Yuanzhang said, "I truly didn't expect that the fourth would give me such a grandson, and this kid is quite clever too!"

Zhu Biao laughed: "Father Emperor, he is only four years old; it was nothing more than the words of a child."

"Tell me, was that fart he let out earlier in the Fengtian Hall not too coincidental?"

Zhu Yuanzhang said with great interest: "Furthermore, he said he wanted to go to the battlefield with the fourth, and this time, among all the officials, not one had the courage of a four-year-old child!"

"Father Emperor, are you really going to reduce the Annual Salary of the imperial clan?"