Chapter 178: Fengyang Aftermath

In the eighth year of Hongwu, the eighth day of the fourth month.

In the courtyard of the Fengyang temporary palace, several long tables were set; Zhu Biao sat at the Main Seat, Zhu Yong sat beside him, and Chen Heng, Zhang Wu and others sat at the lower seats, with thick dossiers spread on the table.

"Elder brother, have these people all been investigated?" Zhu Yong asked, pointing at the dossiers.

Zhu Biao nodded, picked up the top dossier and said, "From the Prefect's office, from top to bottom, there are twenty‑seven implicated officials, sixty‑three clerks, forty‑two trusted servants of Zhou Dexing, and thirty‑eight family members and confidants of Wu Liang.

Forty‑nine core members of the White Lotus Sect in Fengyang, and two hundred seventy‑five ordinary followers."

He paused, then continued, "These 494 people, according to the law, those who should be executed will be executed, those who should be exiled will be exiled, but elder brother thought that so many heads falling might disturb the common folk."

Zhu Yong couldn't help but speak, "Then what to do? We can't just release them."

"Of course we can't release them."

Zhu Biao smiled and went on, "Those who must die shall die, but it need not all be carried out in Fengyang; the Nine Clans of Zhou Dexing and Wu Liang have already been sent to Yingtian, to be dealt with uniformly by the Ministry of Justice.

The core members of the White Lotus Sect are dispatched to various prefectures and counties for proper local punishment; this dispersal both deters petty criminals and prevents Fengyang's blood from flowing like a river."

Chen Heng admired, "Crown Prince's thoughts are thorough."

Zhu Biao waved his hand and said, "That's appropriate; after this turmoil in Fengyang, we need to recuperate, and it is not fitting to see more bloodshed."

He looked at Zhu Yong and said, "Second brother, tomorrow accompany elder brother to your adoptive father's tomb; elder brother has not yet paid respects there."

"Very well," Zhu Yong nodded in reply.

Just then, Empress Ma stepped out of the house, with Guanyin Nu holding Zhu Huanhuan behind her.

"Biao'er, how have the matters been handled?" Empress Ma asked.

Zhu Biao rose, helped his mother sit down, and recounted the arrangements he had just made.

Empress Ma, after listening, sighed, "Biao'er did right; Fengyang is our old home, the killings were excessive, the villagers will be frightened. It's just those unjustly slain laborers..."

"Mother, rest assured, your son has already arranged it; the 537 bodies unearthed from Chaotic Burial Hill have all been reburied in the Righteous Tomb north of the city, with a stone monument erected bearing their names.

An additional thousand taels of silver were allocated for their families as relief," Zhu Biao said.

Empress Ma then nodded, "It should be so; those people are also pitiable."

Zhu Huanhuan wriggled in Guanyin Nu's arms, extending a small hand to be taken by Zhu Yong.

Zhu Yong took his daughter, smiling, "Huan Huan missing dad?"

Three‑year‑old Zhu Huanhuan could already speak, in a baby‑like voice, "Dad, let's go out to play."

"Alright, dad will take Huan Huan out to play," Zhu Yong said, standing while holding his daughter.

Empress Ma laughed, "Go then, take Huan Huan to the street for a stroll and buy some candy to eat."

Zhu Yong, cradling Zhu Huanhuan, left the temporary palace with Zhang Wu.

Fengyang City, after half a month of cleansing, had already returned to calm.

Shops on the street reopened, and the people's anxiety gradually faded.

Zhu Yong, holding his daughter, walked down the street; from time to time, townsfolk recognized him and respectfully saluted, "Prince Wu."

Zhu Yong gave a simple smile and nodded in response.

Arriving at a candy shop, Zhu Huanhuan pointed at the colorful sweets and said, "Dad, candy."

"Buy it," Zhu Yong said, pulling out money and purchasing a bag of malt candy.

Zhang Wu paid from behind, laughing, "Little princess is truly cute."

Zhu Huanhuan tore off a piece of candy, stuffed it in her mouth, and squinted contentedly.

As they walked, a commotion arose ahead.

A crowd gathered at the county office doorway, pointing and gesturing.

Zhu Yong approached and saw that the county office was returning land seized by Zhou Dexing.

An elderly farmer, holding a land deed, knelt on the ground and kowtowed, exclaiming, "Great Lord of the Blue Sky! This land is finally returned!"

A nearby clerk helped him up, saying, "Sir, rise quickly; this is an order from the Crown Prince, that all land seized by Zhou Dexing shall be returned to its original owners."

"Long live the Crown Prince! Long live Prince Wu!" the old farmer cried.

The onlookers also shouted along.

Zhu Yong, still holding his daughter, watched quietly.

Zhang Wu whispered, "Your Highness, the Crown Prince's move is clever; returning the land steadies the people's hearts."

Zhu Yong nodded.

Elder brother, when he acts, is always thorough in every aspect.

After circling the street and returning to the temporary palace, Zhu Biao was reading a Memorandum.

"Second brother is back, Huan Huan, come, elder uncle hug," Zhu Biao said, setting the Memorandum down.

Zhu Huanhuan leapt into Zhu Biao's arms, pulling a piece of candy from her pocket and laughing, "Uncle, candy."

"Huan Huan is truly well‑behaved," Zhu Biao said with a smile, taking the candy but merely holding it without eating.

He looked at Zhu Yong and said, "Second brother, we just received news from Yingtian: Father has issued an edict to permanently halt the Fengyang New Capital project. The portions already built will be converted into a temporary palace, so when we return to perform ancestral rites we can stay there."

"Mother has already mentioned it..." Zhu Yong asked, nodding as he spoke.

Zhu Biao smiled, "Brother, I'm just letting you know that after this incident, Father also realized that moving the capital costs enormously and tends to breed corruption.

Although Yingtian is remote, it has been cultivated for many years and has a solid foundation. Moreover..."

He paused, then whispered, "Father looked at the map you presented and thought, since the world is so vast, Great Ming may someday expand outward; having the capital on the southeast coast would actually be more advantageous for seafaring."

Zhu Yong smiled, "Father is right."

In truth, he understood how much that World Map would impact Zhu Yuanzhang.

An emperor who knows how vast the world is would naturally no longer cling to moving the capital to Fengyang, a trivial matter.

Moreover, this is why he and Zhu Biao did not try to persuade Zhu Yuanzhang; Zhu Yuanzhang can be ruthless, yet he is nostalgic—Fengyang is his hometown, his longing—so he contemplated moving the capital there.

Only when he himself understood could any prior counsel have any effect.

The next day, early morning.

Zhu Biao, Zhu Yong, Empress Ma and Guanyin Nu, with Zhu Huanhuan, the party left Fengyang City and headed east to Fengyang Village.

The carriage rode for half an hour and arrived at the village entrance.

The old village chief had already been waiting at the entrance with the villagers.

When the carriage stopped, the old village chief knelt first and said, "Peasant subjects pay respects to Empress Ma, Crown Prince, Prince Wu, and Wu King Consort."

Empress Ma got out of the carriage, helped him up and said, "Old man, rise quickly, no need for formalities. We just came last time not long ago, why (are you) like this."

The old village chief rose shakily, looked at Zhu Yong, then glanced at Empress Ma and said, "Yes, yes, yes… it's the peasant's… not…"

Zhu Yong chuckled innocently, "Old village chief, I'm back again."

The villagers gathered around, chattering with greetings.

"Prince, welcome back! Come back often…"

"Prince, this is your home…"

"…Next time, don't bring back so many things; the village already has everything now…"

Recently Zhu Yong had Wang Gui send some goods back, because the people are in Fengyang, it's close, and they're not short of money; after buying items, he thought of the villagers and bought extra.

Food, farming tools, and the like.

Zhu Yong responded to each, showing no trace of a princely demeanor.

Aunt Li took Guanyin Nu's hand, examined the Zhu Huanhuan in her arms and said, "Little princess, do you still remember Grandma Li? Let Grandma Li hold you."

Guanyin Nu smiled gently, "Hello, Aunt Li."

"Grandma Li…" Huan Huan had become very familiar with Aunt Li the last time she returned, so she didn't hesitate at all.

Empress Ma said to the old village chief, "Old man, my eldest son wishes to pay respects to Shi Laosan, so I'll need to trouble you to guide the way again."

"Ah, ah, it's only proper, proper…" the old village chief hurriedly led the way.