Chapter 139: Morning Court

In the sixth year of Hongwu, on the tenth day of the fifth month, at Yingtian Prefecture.

When Zhu Yong returned to Wu Wang Fu with his Imperial Guard detachment, it was already evening.

Guanyin Nu was waiting at the doorway, holding her just‑one‑year‑old daughter Zhu Huanhuan; the little girl, seeing her father return, babbled and reached out to be lifted.

"Dad… Dad…" the indistinct child's voice.

Zhu Yong felt a warmth in his heart, took his daughter, and with a simple smile said to Guanyin Nu, "I'm back."

"It's good you're back. News from the palace says that at tomorrow's morning court, His Majesty will discuss maritime matters," Guanyin Nu said with a soft laugh.

Zhu Yong nodded, carrying his daughter toward the interior, and said, "I know; elder brother wrote me a letter."

That evening, Zhu Yong held a family banquet at Wu Wang Fu, inviting Chang Yuchun, Lan Yu and several uncles including Xu Da to dine.

During the meal, when the Penglai Battle was mentioned, Chang Yuchun slammed the table in approval, saying, "Well killed; those sea bandits should be wiped out completely, impeach… impeach what the hell!"

"Tomorrow I'll see which blind fool dares to gossip at court!"

Lan Yu added, "Your Highness, rest assured; we generals are of one mind—whoever impeaches you, we'll beat him!"

Xu Da steadied himself and mused, "The crux lies in the cost of suppressing the bandits, the spoils taken, and the number of civilians rescued. As long as the merits outweigh the faults, His Majesty will understand."

Zhu Yong chuckled, "Xu Shu, rest assured, I've recorded the accounts: the anti‑bandit expense is under fifty thousand taels, the seized wealth amounts to three hundred thousand taels of silver, and we've rescued over two hundred civilians.

A profitable deal.

Xu Da's eyes brightened, "Really?"

"Could I still deceive Xu Shu?" Zhu Yong had Zhang Wu fetch the account book.

After flipping through it, Xu Da stroked his beard and laughed, "Good! With these accounts, at tomorrow's court we need not fear the civil officials gossiping."

The next day, the eleventh day of the fifth month, the morning court convened at Fengtian Hall.

At the hour of Mao, civil and military officials formed their ranks.

Zhu Yuanzhang ascended the throne, his gaze sweeping below, lingering briefly on Zhu Yong.

"If you have matters to report, present them; if not, retire," the eunuch sang loudly.

Minister of Rites Tao Kai was the first to step forward, saying, "Your Majesty, I have a memorial."

"Speak."

Tao Kai held the tablet aloft and declared loudly, "Your Majesty, Prince Wu last month unilaterally opened hostilities in Fujian, leading the navy to suppress the bandits, expending countless funds and provisions, and the slaughter was excessive, harming the heavenly harmony.

I believe he should be held accountable for his overreach, to serve as a warning to others."

As soon as the words fell, several civil officials stepped forward to echo.

"I concur! Though the sea bandits are guilty, they can be pacified; why must we annihilate them completely?"

"The naval warships set sail, consuming fuel and provisions all drawn from the state treasury; a petition must be submitted before troops may be mobilized."

"The slaughter exceeds a thousand, fearing damage to heavenly harmony; we must be cautious in punishment and in killing."

Zhu Yong stood among the generals, expressionless.

Zhu Yuanzhang looked at him and asked, "Prince Wu, what do you have to say?"

Zhu Yong stepped forward, his simple smile returning, and said, "Dad, I have something to say."

He pulled a thick account book from his chest, offering it with both hands, "These are the detailed expenses and spoils of the anti‑bandit campaign; please review them, Dad."

The eunuch took the account book and presented it to Zhu Yuanzhang.

Zhu Yuanzhang opened it and began to examine it carefully.

The more he read, the more his brows relaxed.

"Anti‑bandit expense: three hundred jin of gunpowder, equivalent to one hundred fifty taels of silver; five thousand arrows, equivalent to two hundred taels of silver; five hundred shi of grain and fodder, equivalent to two hundred fifty taels of silver; warship repairs, equivalent to four hundred taels of silver… total, four thousand eight hundred seventy‑six taels."

"Seized: gold and silver in cash, fifty‑three thousand taels; jewelry and jade, equivalent to eighty thousand taels of silver; silk and porcelain, equivalent to one hundred twenty thousand taels of silver; forty warships, equivalent to forty thousand taels of silver; fifteen cannons, equivalent to three thousand taels of silver… total, three hundred thousand six thousand taels."

"Civilians rescued: two hundred thirty‑seven people, all returned to their hometowns."

After reading, Zhu Yuanzhang handed the account book to the nearby eunuch and said, "Read it aloud for the ministers."

The eunuch recited it loudly.

When the total seized amount of three hundred thousand six thousand taels was read, a collective inhalation rose within the hall.

Finishing, Zhu Yuanzhang looked at Tao Kai and said, "Minister Tao, you spoke of countless expenses—what does 'countless' amount to? You said the slaughter was excessive; when the sea bandits plundered civilians and trafficked people, did you consider the heavenly harmony?"

Tao Kai's face turned pale, and he hurried, "I… I was merely stating what the report said…"

"The report… the Fujian Provincial Administrator's report, we have also read—it only mentions Prince Wu's unilateral opening of hostilities and the expenses, but says nothing about how much was seized or how many civilians were rescued."

"Minister Tao, you as a Minister are truly muddled," Zhu Yuanzhang sneered.

Tao Kai fell to his knees with a thud, "I was negligent, I am guilty!"

Zhu Yuanzhang ignored him, turned to the other civil officials who had just voiced support, and asked, "And you? Any other remarks?"

The assembled lowered their heads in silence.

At that moment, Xu Da stepped forward, "Your Majesty, I think Prince Wu's anti‑bandit campaign's merits outweigh its faults; not only has he cleared the maritime frontier and seized abundant spoils, but also rescued over two hundred civilians.

He deserves reward, not punishment."

Chang Yuchun, Lan Yu and the other generals stepped forward, "We concur!"

Among the civil officials, there were also those who understood.

Minister of Revenue Yang Jing stepped forward, "Your Majesty, Prince Wu seized three hundred thousand taels, far exceeding the expenses, benefiting the state treasury; the sea bandits are eradicated, the coastal trade routes are smooth, which is advantageous to both the nation and the people.

I believe Prince Wu is meritorious," he added.

The situation reversed.

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded and said, "In that case, Prince Wu's anti‑bandit achievements merit a reward of ten thousand taels of silver, a hundred bolts of silk, and double compensation for the fallen soldiers."

"Thank you, Dad," Zhu Yong bowed.

Hearing Zhu Yong's address, the civil official who wanted to speak glanced at the dragon throne where Zhu Yuanzhang remained expressionless, and thus said nothing.

"However, next time you dispatch troops, you must submit a report first; you may not act on your own accord," Zhu Yuanzhang said, his tone shifting slightly as he whispered the sentence.

"Yes."

After the morning court dispersed, Zhu Yong had just stepped out of Fengtian Hall when Zhu Biao called him back.

"Second brother, come with big brother."

The two brothers arrived at Wenhua Hall.

Zhu Biao stepped aside to the left and right, then said, "Second brother, at today's court, do you know who is behind the one impeaching you?"

Zhu Yong scratched his head and said, "Isn't it Tao Kai?"

"Tao Kai is only a pawn; the ones truly after you are those Jiangnan aristocratic families. You wiped out the sea bandits, cutting off a source of revenue for them."

Zhu Biao shook his head and said.

"Revenue..."

"The loot taken by the sea bandits mostly ended up in the pockets of the Jiangnan aristocratic families. They supplied intelligence; when the bandits struck, the plunder was split three to seven."

"Your crackdown caused them considerable loss," Zhu Biao sneered.

Zhu Yong suddenly understood, "So that's it…"

"But rest assured, with Father and big brother around, they can't stir up trouble. By the way, the Flintlock Gun is handy, isn't it? How's its power..." Zhu Biao patted his shoulder and laughed.

"It's handy, and its power is great..." Zhu Yong said with a smile.

"Alright, as long as it's handy, that's fine. By the way, recently the Ministry of Works has improved the Flintlock Gun a lot. Father is testing the New Gun at the Training Ground; do you want to go see?"

Zhu Biao said with a smile.

"Improved, great! Then let's go see..." Zhu Yong heard this and couldn't help but nod.

The two men arrived at the Training Ground on the western side of the palace.

Zhu Yuanzhang was already there, with Xu Da, Chang Yuchun and Li Wenzhong and other generals standing nearby.

"Servant, bring out the Ministry of Works' improved New Gun for us to see," Zhu Yuanzhang said.

Then a craftsman from the Ministry of Works presented a new‑style Flintlock Gun to Zhu Yuanzhang.

Zhu Yuanzhang took it and examined it carefully.

The barrel was forged from Refined Iron, about a little over four feet long and weighing a little over eight jin.

The stock was hard wood, polished to a smooth finish.

The firing mechanism still used flint to spark, but the overall structure was indeed far more ingenious, and likewise the whole gun was a bit longer.

"This gun… looks much longer..." Zhu Yuanzhang asked curiously.

"Reporting to Your Majesty, this new type of Flintlock Gun has been re‑engineered by our Ministry of Works. The previous Flintlock Gun's effective range was only ninety meters; the current one reaches about one hundred twenty meters."

"Your Majesty, the one you hold is for infantry use; there is also a cavalry version, though its barrel is shorter," the Ministry of Works craftsman said, a little nervous.

"Let us try it out," Zhu Yuanzhang said, nodding with satisfaction, then handed the gun to Zhu Yong.