Chapter 248: Hu Weiyong

In the twelfth year of Hongwu, the tenth day of the eighth month.

Yingtian Prefecture, Chaoyang Gate.

Three thousand iron cavalry entered the city slowly, their hooves striking the bluestone slabs and producing a uniform clatter.

The sides of the city gate were packed with commoners, tiptoeing to peer into the formation.

"Look, that's the Wu King!"

"Which one... which one?"

"The one at the front riding a black horse, the one carrying the hammer!"

Zhu Yong rode a black warhorse, tall and majestic, with the pair of golden hammers on drum jars slung over his shoulder.

One hammer weighed six hundred jin, the two together twelve hundred jin; the hammer heads were larger than a human head, flashing black‑gold light in the sun.

The commoners gasped in awe.

"Mother, how heavy are those hammers?"

"I heard they are cast of iron; ordinary people can't even lift them."

"Nonsense—if you could move them, would they still be called the Wu King?"

"...."

Zhu Yong heard it but paid no mind.

Three war horses rode beside him, and Zhu Shuang, Zhu Gang, and Zhu Di, all clad in armor, stood with backs as straight as pens.

Though their faces still bore a hint of fatigue, their eyes shone brightly; having returned from a victory, even their walk carried the wind.

Further behind were the three thousand iron cavalry, their armor vivid and their war horses robust.

In the middle of the column were dozens of large carts loaded with seized weapons, armor, and the prison cart of rebel leader Wang Shudu'er.

The commoners felt their blood boil.

"We won! We won again!"

"When the Wu King rides, one equals ten thousand!"

"Those three are the Qin King, Jin King, and Yan King, right? They also went to battle?"

"Indeed, I heard this time they followed the Wu King to attack Na Lin, slaughtering the rebels until they rolled in excrement and urine!"

"...."

Zhu Shuang heard that and lifted his chin even higher.

The column passed through the gate and marched along Vermilion Bird Street toward the Imperial City.

Along both sides of the street, commoners kept cheering; some tossed flowers into the ranks, others carried wine to toast the soldiers.

Zhu Yong walked while nodding, a simple grin on his face.

When they reached the Imperial City gate, the column halted.

Crown Prince Zhu Biao was already waiting in front of Cheng Tian Gate, with several officials standing behind him.

Zhu Yong tossed his mount aside, hurried over and called, "Big brother!"

Zhu Biao smiled and met him, slapping his shoulder hard and saying, "Second brother, you've worked hard."

"Not hard at all, Lao Si and Fifth Prince are the ones who are tired," Zhu Yong chuckled, glancing back at his three younger brothers.

Zhu Shuang, Zhu Gang, and Zhu Di also quickly dismounted and stepped forward to salute, "Big brother!"

Zhu Biao looked at each of them, nodded and said, "You've all slimmed, but your spirits are fine. Come, Imperial Father is waiting!"

The party entered Cheng Tian Gate and headed toward Fengtian Hall.

Inside Fengtian Hall, Zhu Yuanzhang sat on the Dragon Throne reviewing memoranda.

Hearing footsteps, he lifted his head and set down his brush.

"Returned?"

"Father, I'm back," Zhu Yong knelt and saluted.

The three younger brothers also quickly knelt.

Zhu Yuanzhang waved his hand and said, "Rise, rise, why keep kneeling? Let's see."

He stepped down from the imperial throne, circled his four sons once, then stopped before Zhu Shuang, pinching his arm, "Hmm, stronger now, Lao San, how did you fight this time?"

Zhu Shuang puffed his chest and said, "Imperial Father, your son fought alongside Second Brother and killed thirty‑seven enemies!"

"Thirty‑seven?" Zhu Yuanzhang raised an eyebrow.

"Yes, all in frontal charge, one slash per person!" Zhu Shuang shouted.

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded and turned to Zhu Gang, "Lao Si, what about you?"

Zhu Gang hurriedly replied, "Your son killed twenty‑nine enemies and also captured a Hundred Household Officer!"

"Capturing... shows progress," Zhu Yuanzhang smiled.

Finally he looked at Zhu Di and asked, "Fifth Prince, what about you?"

Zhu Di clasped his hands and said, "Imperial Father, your son killed fifty‑three enemies, assisted Second Brother in commanding the rear unit, counted the spoils, and recorded the prisoners."

Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes brightened, "Fifty‑three? And you even oversaw the rear unit?"

"Yes," Zhu Di lowered his head.

Zhu Yuanzhang stared at him for a moment, then burst out laughing, "Good! Good! Our sons should be like this!"

He walked back to the imperial throne, sat down, and gazed at his four sons, lingering longest on Zhu Shuang and Zhu Gang.

"Lao San, Lao Si, you truly made us look at you with new eyes this time; back in Yingtian, you were either fighting crickets or causing trouble, and we thought the two of you would never change in this life.

Never expected that, once on the battlefield, you could actually fight."

Zhu Shuang and Zhu Gang exchanged a glance, feeling both joy and shame.

Zhu Yuanzhang continued, "Fifth Prince, you have always been steady; that's no surprise, but Lao San and Lao Si fighting like this truly took us by surprise."

He paused, then suddenly asked, "You all say, this time we can win the battle, what will we rely on?"

Zhu Shuang rushed to say, "Rely on the Second Prince! The Second Prince leads the charge, we follow!"

Zhu Gang also nodded, "Yes, the Second Prince rides ahead, just watching gives us vigor."

Zhu Yuanzhang looked at Zhu Yong, his gaze softened a bit, and said, "Yong Er, you led well."

Zhu Yong chuckled, "Father, the younger brothers will prove themselves."

Zhu Yuanzhang patted Zhu Yong's shoulder and laughed, "Enough, all go rest; tonight we'll hold a Family Banquet to welcome you back."

"Thank you, Imperial Father!"

The four sons saluted and withdrew.

When they left, Zhu Yuanzhang's smile gradually faded.

"Biao Er, stay," he said.

Zhu Biao was about to go out, but upon hearing it stopped, and returned.

Only the father and son remained in the hall.

Zhu Yuanzhang stood, walked to the window, turned his back to Zhu Biao, and was silent for a while.

"Biao Er, tell me, should we replace this Chancellor?"

Zhu Biao's heart jumped as he said, "Father, you mean Hu Weiyong?"

"Besides him, who else? We made him Chancellor because he obeyed, but look at the result—these past years he's become more outrageous. In all court matters he handles them first, then reports to us."

"The documents we approve, he dares to hold them back; the people we want to employ, he dares to block them."

Zhu Biao fell silent.

He knew about Hu Weiyong's affairs.

In recent years Hu Weiyong's power has grown daily, his followers gathered a group of officials, hinting at a 'Hu faction dominates the court.'

Last year Imperial Censor Han Xuanke of the Zhejiang Circuit impeached Hu Weiyong for tyranny, but was instead demoted by Hu Weiyong on a pretext.

Zhu Biao remembered this matter clearly.

"Imperial Father, Hu Weiyong is indeed overbearing, but if we act against him now, what reason?" Zhu Biao said slowly.

Zhu Yuanzhang sneered, "Reason? Do we need a reason to act against him?"

Zhu Biao shook his head, "Father, an action must have a name; Hu Weiyong has been Chancellor for years, his allies fill the court. Without solid crimes, acting rashly may cause turmoil."

Zhu Yuanzhang looked at him, "Then what do you think we should do?"

Zhu Biao pondered briefly, "I think we should first clip his wings; those officials under Hu Weiyong have committed many misdeeds in recent years, pick a few with solid evidence and deal with them first."

"If Hu Weiyong makes a move, he'll expose himself; if he stays still, once his wings are clipped he'll be isolated, and then acting against him will be as easy as flipping a hand."

Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes brightened, "Good! Biao Er, that's a fine idea!"

He returned to the throne, sat down, tapped his fingers on the armrest, and began to contemplate.

"Where is that Han Xuanke of the Zhejiang Circuit now?"

"He was demoted to Yunnan," Zhu Biao said.

"Recall him, have him rewrite the impeachment document against Hu Weiyong, this time in more detail, listing each point clearly," Zhu Yuanzhang said.

"Understood."

"Also, have the Jinyiwei keep a close watch on Hu Weiyong; whatever people he meets and what he says each day, we must know."

"Understood."

Zhu Yuanzhang paused, then laughed, "Biao Er, you are steadier than me. Sometimes I want to drag him out and cut him down, but I know we cannot do that."

Zhu Biao whispered, "Father, you are the Son of Heaven, a model for all under heaven; some matters cannot be cut cleanly, they must be ground slowly."

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded, "Yes, grind slowly until he cannot endure and jumps out himself."

He stood, walked to Zhu Biao, patted his son's shoulder and said, "Biao Er, having you is our blessing."

Zhu Biao lowered his head, "I dare not accept such praise."

Zhu Yuanzhang suddenly recalled something, "By the way, Lao San and Lao Si fought well this time; perhaps we should reshuffle their fiefs."

Zhu Biao thought and said, "Father, where do you intend to move Lao San and Lao Si's fiefs, to the border…"

Zhu Yuanzhang frowned, then said, "Let us think…"

"Father, perhaps we could summon the Second Brother to ask; this time the Second Brother led Lao San and the others into battle, perhaps he had some intention," Zhu Biao said.

Zhu Yuanzhang heard this and laughed again, unable to help but say, "It seems, Biao Er, you also saw it; this time Yong Er led them out correctly, your Second Brother may look simple, but he understands it in his heart!"

Zhu Biao also laughed, "Second Brother leads troops well; the younger brothers obey him."

"Indeed, that's how our sons should be," Zhu Yuanzhang said proudly.