The Ming Dynasty: Reshaping the Land

Chapter 11 The Way of Balance

On his way back to Jinshen Hall from the East Palace, Zhu Yuanzhang remained silent, his mind preoccupied with matters concerning the palace system.

Li Jinglong followed silently behind. After what happened at the Eastern Palace, he had already made up his mind that he would say he didn't know anything when Old Zhu asked him anything.

Since inheriting the title, I have failed to hide my talents; instead, I have been offered one suggestion after another. If this continues, I am afraid that Old Zhu will mold me into a leader of the nobility!

Old Zhu suddenly stopped, turned around to look at Li Jinglong, and said with satisfaction, "Second Girl, you did a great job yesterday!"

After saying that, Old Zhu even patted Li Jinglong on the shoulder affectionately.

Old Zhu's kindness came somewhat suddenly, catching Li Jinglong off guard. "Your Majesty, this is what I should do!"

"Yes, that's thoughtful!" Old Zhu nodded and continued on his way.

No? You think that's all? What about compromise? What about an apology? I was grounded by you last night.

At this moment, Li Jinglong really wanted to go up and argue with Old Zhu.

But then I thought about it again, and considering Old Zhu's stubborn personality, it's really not easy for him to do this!

"Second daughter, tell me, if the palace is powerful, how should we deal with it?" Zhu Yuanzhang asked casually, his gaze drifting into the distance.

"Your Majesty, I do not know either!" Li Jinglong shook his head.

Old Zhu glanced at Li Jinglong, a slight smile playing on his lips: "Really don't know? I think you just don't want to say!"

Li Jinglong felt a chill run down his spine. "I don't believe you can see through me!"

"Your Majesty, I am foolish. There are not just one or two people in the palace. I really can't figure out how to win over everyone in the palace without alerting others!" Li Jinglong deliberately pretended to be puzzled.

"You!" Old Zhu nodded a few times, his words tinged with coldness. "You still don't understand civil officials!"

"Civil official?"

"Throughout history, those who vie for power and profit have never been more numerous than civil officials!" Old Zhu said coldly. "Forming cliques, excluding dissidents, deceiving superiors and concealing the truth—is there anything they wouldn't dare to do?"

Li Jinglong sighed inwardly, "You know what, the Ming Dynasty really was ruined by the factional strife within the civil service!"

"Your Majesty is a man of profound wisdom and foresight; you will surely come up with a perfect solution!" Li Jinglong silently offered a compliment.

"Hmph!" Old Zhu glanced at Li Jinglong, then turned and walked towards the Jinshen Hall.

Li Jinglong awkwardly touched his nose, then followed.

In Li Jinglong's mind, the best cabinet structure was seven people, with civil officials, military officers, and members of the imperial family forming a tripartite balance. This would ensure that political and military affairs could complement each other's strengths while also checking and balancing each other to prevent any one side from becoming too powerful.

However, Li Jinglong could not reveal this at this moment. He had already shown enough brilliance when he was in the Eastern Palace. If he were to reveal this strategy, not only would he not survive until the Jingnan Rebellion, but he would probably be next after Lan Yu.

The two remained silent the entire way. Just as they arrived at the entrance of the Jinshen Hall, a eunuch came to inform Zhu Yuanzhang that Duke Ying, Fu Youde, was requesting an audience.

Upon hearing this, Li Jinglong prepared to take his leave, but Old Zhu stopped him, saying, "Come in with us. Fu Weixue has just returned from Yunnan and is here to report on the progress of the battle. You can listen to his report too!"

Li Jinglong nodded in agreement. Fu Zhong and Princess Shouchun's wedding was imminent, and Fu Youde had come back specifically to attend the wedding.

In February, the Zhendong and Xipu tribes in Yunnan rebelled. Zhu Yuanzhang sent Fu Youde to lead the expedition. Now that the rebellion has been quelled, although the army has not yet returned, Fu Youde cannot be absent from such an important occasion as his son is marrying a princess and becoming part of the royal family.

Upon hearing footsteps, Fu Youde, who was standing in the hall, immediately turned around. Just as he was about to bow and pay his respects, a hint of disgust flashed in his eyes when he saw Li Jinglong.

Fu Youde is over sixty years old. His years of military service have given him a bronze complexion. Although he is not tall, he is exceptionally strong and stands upright.

"Your subject, Fu Youde, pays his respects to Your Majesty!"

"No need for formalities!" Old Zhu extended his hand, making a gesture of support.

"Greetings, Duke Ying!" Li Jinglong bowed respectfully.

Although Fu Youde disliked him, Li Jinglong could not be impolite.

Fu Youde nodded slightly, then looked at Zhu Yuanzhang: "Your Majesty, I have returned to the capital from Yunnan and have come to report back!"

Old Zhu smiled and nodded, saying, "Weixue, we received your battle report a long time ago. You did a great job this time, suppressing the rebellion quickly. You deserve a lot of credit!"

Fu Youde bowed and said, "I am fortunate to have fulfilled my mission!"

Zhu Yuanzhang waved his hand: "Weixue, Fu Zhong has already been officially appointed today, so we are now in-laws. There's no need for further formalities!"

"Your Majesty's kindness to me is as heavy as a mountain, and now you have allowed my son to marry a princess. Your imperial grace is boundless, and I will certainly repay it with my life!" Fu Youde said respectfully, cupping his hands.

Old Zhu laughed heartily and said, "You, Fu Weixue, are good in every way, except you're too rigid about etiquette!"

Fu Youde responded with a smile: "Your subject would never dare to be disrespectful before Your Majesty!"

"Tell me about it! Let me hear the details!" Old Zhu then inquired about the course of the battle.

Fu Youde replied, "Your Majesty, I left the capital on the third day of the second month to summon troops from garrisons in Hunan and Guizhou to join the expedition. I arrived in Yunnan at the end of the second month and joined forces with Marquis Mu Ying of Xiping before launching the campaign to quell the rebellion."

Fu Youde paused for a moment, then continued, "My military strategy is as follows: There are five rebellious barbarian tribes in total. I divided my troops into three routes, with the left and right generals and myself each leading one route. I personally led the campaign against the largest tribe..."

Li Jinglong stood aside, listening attentively. Old Zhu had asked Fu Youde to recount the detailed military strategy so that he could learn from it.

Li Jinglong couldn't help but sigh inwardly: Old Zhu really spared no effort in cultivating him!

"Was this rebellion of the various ethnic groups in Yunnan instigated by someone?" Old Zhu continued to ask.

Fu Youde nodded: "Your Majesty, I later discovered that the rebellion of the various barbarians was instigated by someone. The leader was a remnant of the Yuan Liang regime, who has been captured and beheaded by me!"

Zhu Yuanzhang sneered: "Inciting rebellion deserves to die!"

"Your Majesty is absolutely right. Before returning to the capital, I ordered the army to remain stationed in place. The barbarians fear my power but do not resent my virtue. If they show any signs of rebellion, we will suppress them by force!"

"That's right, that's how it should be!" Old Zhu nodded, then changed the subject to the wedding: "Weixue, you should rest at home for a few days. After Fu Zhong and the princess's wedding, you must return to Yunnan as soon as possible!"

"After my son and the princess get married, I will immediately return to Yunnan!" Fu Youde announced his plans.

"Alright! Go back and get some rest! You don't need to attend court for the next couple of days!"

"Your Majesty, I thank you!"

After Fu Youde left, Old Zhu turned to Li Jinglong and joked, "I heard Mu Ying acted as matchmaker for you and the Fu family girl?"

A hint of embarrassment appeared on Li Jinglong's face: "Yes, Your Majesty!"

"Fu Weixue is loyal, brave, and resourceful, and his family has an upright character. You, on the other hand!" Old Zhu rolled his eyes at Li Jinglong, a hint of reproach in his voice. "I think Mu Ying is right; you're just blind!"

Li Jinglong also had his own grievances to express. These were all things the original owner did, so what did they have to do with him?

Why don't you, sir, just grant us a marriage?