Chapter 34: Duke of Cao

"Let's go to Kunning Palace, Mother; we should have our noon meal now," Zhu Biao clasped his shoulder.

In Kunning Palace, Empress Ma had already set a table of dishes.

Zhu Shuang, Zhu Gang, and Zhu Di also arrived; the two's hands were still swollen, but their spirits were much better.

"Mother, there's braised pork today!" Zhu Di's eyes sparkled.

Empress Ma smiled, "I know you love it, so I had the Imperial Kitchen make it specially."

Zhu Yuanzhang also came; the whole family sat around one table.

"Father, Elder Brother said the Xie Shu case has been decided..." Zhu Shuang asked cautiously.

Zhu Yuanzhang glanced at him, "What, are you also concerned with state affairs now?"

Zhu Shuang tucked his neck in and said, "I, the son minister, am just curious, just asking..."

Zhu Yuanzhang said lightly, "Don't ask what you shouldn't; study well..."

The younger ones hurriedly nodded.

Empress Ma offered Zhu Yuanzhang a piece of meat and said, "Zhong Ba, we're eating, don't talk about this."

Zhu Yuanzhang's expression softened a bit, and he said to Zhu Biao, "Biao'er, you handled today well. Also, regarding Guo Ying, go give them a knock, give them a knock."

Zhu Biao nodded, "The son minister understands."

Zhu Rong heard it in a cloud of confusion.

Guo Ying...

What's the relation to this case...

After the meal, Zhu Biao led Zhu Rong out of Kunning Palace and explained, "Guo Ying's steward often uses the host family's name to commit misdeeds; Father means to let Guo Ying handle it herself."

"Then Elder Brother wants to scold Guo Ying?" Zhu Rong asked.

Zhu Biao shook his head and said, "It's not scolding, it's a reminder. Guo Ying is a meritorious official; we can't tarnish his dignity because a servant erred. I'll go once, let him clean his own house, preserving his face and warning others."

Zhu Rong understood.

This is Elder Brother's method: seeming gentle, yet meticulous everywhere.

The two reached the palace gate, and Zhu Biao suddenly said, "Second Brother, do you want to go see the military camp?"

Zhu Rong's eyes lit up, "I want to!"

"Then tomorrow I'll take you to the Shence Guard Camp; you should also meet your future subordinates," Zhu Biao said with a smile.

Zhu Rong, after being titled Prince of Wu, was given three thousand Imperial Troops by Zhu Yuanzhang, all elite soldiers selected from various armies, temporarily stationed at the Shence Guard Camp.

"Thank you, Elder Brother!" Zhu Rong said happily.

Zhu Biao looked at his simple smiling face, feeling warm inside.

This younger brother, though simple and straightforward, has a pure heart and exceptional bravery.

With him, I, the Prince, will have an extra support when I ascend the throne.

More importantly, he truly cherishes Zhu Rong as his own brother.

Returning to the Eastern Palace, Zhu Biao summoned Censorate officials and began handling state affairs.

He has now begun overseeing the nation, reviewing a large number of memorials each day.

Looking at the memorials reporting disasters, rebellions, and border troubles from across the lands, Zhu Biao's expression grew solemn.

"Prince, Zhejiang has suffered another great flood," Grand Scholar Huang Guan of the Censorate handed over a memorial.

Zhu Biao took it, examined it closely, and furrowed his brows tighter, "Seven counties flooded... where is the disaster relief silver allocated by the Ministry of Revenue?"

"Twenty hundred thousand taels have been allocated, but... it's a drop in the bucket," Huang Guan whispered.

Zhu Biao fell silent for a moment, then lifted his brush to annotate, "Order the Zhejiang Provincial Administrator to open granaries and release grain, exempt the flooded counties from taxes for three years, and additionally transfer ten thousand shi of grain from Nanjing's storehouses to Zhejiang immediately."

After finishing, he thought and added another line, "Instruct the Imperial Censor to strictly investigate the whereabouts of the disaster relief silver; if any embezzlement is found, execute on the spot without pardon."

Huang Guan stared at the sharp strokes, feeling a chill in his heart.

The Prince is usually gentle, but when it comes to the people's suffering, his methods are never weak.

Elsewhere, Zhu Rong returned to his side hall and took a small jade bottle from his bosom.

It contained pills from the system space, nine of them.

He sealed the jade bottle and lay down on the bed.

There were too many events today; he needed to digest them properly.

The debates in the court, Father and Elder Brother's governing methods, and the Imperial Troops he would meet tomorrow...

Thinking over them, he fell asleep.

It was late at night, and the imperial palace gradually grew quiet.

In Wu Ying Hall, Zhu Yuanzhang was still reviewing memorials.

Empress Ma carried in Ginseng Soup and said, "Zhong Ba, it's time to rest."

Zhu Yuanzhang set down his brush, rubbed his brow, and asked, "Girl, do you think Biao'er and Rong'er will be able to protect this realm in the future?"

Empress Ma laughed, "Biao'er is benevolent and strategic, Rong'er is brave and pure-hearted; the two brothers work together with one mind, how could they fail to guard it?"

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded, took a sip of Ginseng Soup, and said, "Indeed... the more years we live, the more we can teach them."

He looked out the window; the night was deep and dark.

In the eleventh month of Hongwu Second Year, the Yingtian Prefecture had already entered winter.

The cold morning wind swept across the Shence Guard Camp, and the flags on the Training Ground fluttered rustling.

Zhu Biao led Zhu Rong out of the camp, with a squad of Eastern Palace guards following behind.

"Second Brother, did you remember those soldiers just now?" Zhu Biao turned his head and asked.

Zhu Rong nodded naively, "Remembered. The one with the black face is Zhang Wu, the one with the white face is Chen Heng; both were selected by General Chang."

Zhu Biao smiled, "General Chang does care about you. These three thousand Imperial Troops are all elite, but you must remember they are now your men; you need to learn how to lead them."

"I'll treat them well," Zhu Yong said seriously.

The two got into the carriage and headed toward the city.

Zhu Biao lifted the carriage curtain, looked at the street outside, and said slowly, "Second brother, today I'm taking you to meet our uncle and elder cousin."

"Uncle?" Zhu Yong blinked.

"Yes, my father's brother‑in‑law, Uncle Li Zhen, and also Cousin Li Wenzhong, who is Uncle's son; he is now a Deputy Governor, in charge of the Left Military Governor's Office," Zhu Biao explained.

Zhu Yong searched his memory.

In his vague recollection from a previous life, Li Zhen seemed to have died in the Hongwu Eleventh Year, and Li Wenzhong a bit later… the details were unclear.

But he remembered that both men were very loyal to the old Zhu Family.

The carriage stopped in front of a mansion.

A plaque of Cao Guo Gong Fu hung on the lintel; it was after Zhu Yuanzhang ascended the throne that Li Zhen was ennobled, and the mansion was named after it. (Cao Guo Gong was only ennobled in the Hongwu Third Year, but here it was earlier, so Cao Guo Gong is a bit familiar.)

A steward had been waiting at the door; when the carriage stopped, he hurried forward and said, "Greetings, Crown Prince, Prince Wu, the master is already waiting in the main hall."

Zhu Biao nodded, and led Zhu Yong inside.

They were all relatives, and Zhu Biao had already greeted Li Zhen, asking him not to come out to receive them; this time we came in a junior capacity.

Through the front courtyard, in the main hall, a man in his fifties sat drinking tea.

He wore a plain cotton robe, his expression kind, and when he saw Zhu Biao enter, he quickly rose and said, "Crown Prince…"

"Uncle, no need for formalities; we're all family, just call me Biao," Zhu Biao stepped forward and supported him, "

Li Zhen then smiled and nodded, his gaze falling on Zhu Yong, and he examined him carefully, saying, "So this is… Yong Er."

"Indeed, second brother, second brother, this is Uncle," Zhu Biao stepped aside and laughed.

Zhu Yong clumsily performed the bow, "Greetings, Uncle."

Li Zhen looked at Zhu Yong's face, then at Zhu Biao, his eyes slightly reddened, and said, "Just like… truly like. When your mother gave birth to you two brothers, I even went to see; the two little babies looked exactly the same…"

As he was speaking, footsteps came from outside.

A man in his thirties strode in, his build robust, with a hint of heroic spirit in his features.

He saw Zhu Biao, clasped his fists, and said, "Crown Prince."

"Cousin Wen Zhong, this is second brother, Zhu Yong," Zhu Biao smiled and returned the salute.

Li Wenzhong looked at Zhu Yong, surprise flashing in his eyes, then laughed, "I've long heard that Prince Wu leads the three armies with bravery; seeing you today, indeed you are valiant."

Zhu Yong scratched his head, "Cousin, you flatter me."