Chapter 74: Japanese pirates? Execute them all, no need for surrender.

Capital, King of Yan mansion.

Zhu Di leaned against the bed, his eyes groggy and unfocused. He occasionally rubbed his temples.

Xu Yihua brought a bowl of plain porridge and asked with concern, “Your Highness, do you have a headache?”

Zhu Di took the porridge and sighed, saying, “The wine was good, but it was too intoxicating. Ten barrels of wine were nothing to me in the past, but yesterday, I only had five with someone.”

Xu Yihua sat nearby, looking at Zhu Di tenderly, and said, “Your Highness, I heard that it was strong liquor, not the usual kind.”

After taking a sip of porridge and feeling a bit better, Zhu Di sniffed the air in the room and frowned, asking, “Did I vomit last night?”

Xu Yihua smiled and replied, “Your Highness, have you really forgotten? You did it three times. I don’t know why you drank so much. What if it harms your health? What should we do then?”

Zhu Di chuckled and handed the bowl to Xu Yihua. He got up from the bed and said, “If I haven’t drunk so much. I wouldn’t have had the courage to speak those words. If the Emperor wants me to be open and honest, then I’ll show him clearly and make him understand.”

Xu Yihua furrowed her brows in worry, looking at Zhu Di.

Seeing her concern, Zhu Di gently took Xu Yihua’s hand and said with a smile, “Don’t worry, I won’t oppose the Emperor again. We are safe now. Send a letter to Chi’er^[1]Tl’s note: Zhu Di’s Eldest Son Zhu Gaochi and the others, asking them not to worry.”

With her worries eased, Xu Yihua nodded earnestly. Then, she seemed to think of something and added, “Your Highness, the King of Liao and King of Min territories have been taken away.”

“What?”

Zhu Di was instantly startled.

Xu Yihua walked to the side of the table, picked up a document, and handed it to Zhu Di, saying, “The two kings engaged in business, which goes against ancestral traditions. The decision to take back their fiefdoms serves as punishment.”

After carefully reading the document, Zhu Di asked, “Is it true that the medical gauze and alcohol were produced by the two kings?”

Xu Yihua shook her head and said, “It’s not clear, but it’s true that the two kings’ mansions purchased weaving materials and procured alcohol. However, there are also rumors, though quite absurd…”

“What rumors?” Zhu Di asked curiously.

Xu Yihua smiled and said, “Rumors say that the medical gauze and alcohol are actually produced in the imperial harem, and the two kings merely sold them. Does Your Highness find this amusing? If the imperial harem could produce these items, why would they trade them through the Ministry of War?”

A glint flashed in Zhu Di’s eyes, and he couldn’t help but move his lips when he saw the words “take back their fiefdoms” in the document. He said, “Absurd? Haha, when I had rebellious intentions, the Emperor forgave my actions. To outsiders, wouldn’t that also seem absurd?”

Xu Yihua was stunned, and in an instant, she understood. She asked with astonishment, “Your Highness, this, this can’t be true, right?”

Absurdity is the truth?

What are the Emperor and Empress trying to achieve with this?

Zhu Di realized the situation, and his mood improved greatly. He smiled and said, “The Emperor has played a good hand. Come, help me put on my court attire; I’m going to attend the court session!”

Xu Yihua hurriedly advised, “Your Highness, you were heavily drunk yesterday and haven’t fully rested yet. How can you go to court? Besides, many officials already have grievances against you. If you attend the session, it might invite impeachments. Why put yourself through that?”

Zhu Di smiled and remained silent, gesturing for Xu Yihua to prepare his court attire.

Fengtian Hall.

With the ceremonial music starting, the officials entered the hall following the rhythm.

“His Majesty is attending the court session!”

An eunuch shouted loudly.

Zhu Yunwen walked along the central path into the main hall, and the officials kneeled and paid their respects, shouting “long live the emperor.”

Zhu Yunwen took his seat and raised his hand, saying, “Please rise.”

The sound of the emperor’s voice resonated through the Fengtian Hall as the bells were struck. The officials kowtowed and thanked the emperor, then stood up, preparing to present their reports for the day.

From a tray held by a nearby eunuch, Zhu Yunwen took a memorial and said, “Dengzhou Guard’s Assistant Commander Qi Bin has come to report that there have been Japanese pirates appearing along the coast of Shandong. If I remember correctly, there should be similar reports from the coastal regions of Fujian, Jiangsu and Zhejiang as well, right?”

Xu Huizu stepped forward and said, “Your Majesty, last year, there were twenty-one reports of Japanese pirates in Fujian and seventeen reports in Jiangsu and Zhejiang. Some groups were small, consisting of only a few individuals, while others were larger, with around a hundred members.”

“Hmph, Japanese pirates, Japanese pirates!” Zhu Yunwen clenched his teeth, speaking with a fierce tone.

This hatred shocked the court officials.

Xie Jin, Xu Huizu, and others were also taken aback. The Emperor’s emotions were quite intense. Even when there were reports of pirates in Guangzhou last year, he did not display such anger.

“How were these situations dealt with in various regions?” Zhu Yunwen suppressed his anger and asked.

Xu Huizu quickly replied, “The local garrisons have strengthened their defenses, but the Japanese pirates are scattered, and the results have been minimal.”

“Defenses? How can the people of Great Ming be humiliated by Japanese pirates! Announce to all the garrisons that once the Japanese pirates invade, they must be completely annihilated! Didn’t Qi Bin wants to go to sea to kill the Japanese pirates, then give him ships! Inform the coastal provinces that any Japanese pirates who harm our people of Great Ming are to be executed on the spot, no need for surrender, no need for escort!”

Zhu Yunwen issued the command with a chilling aura.

The court officials were trembling with fear.

This was the first time since Zhu Yunwen ascended the throne that he had issued such a ruthless and merciless command.

The military officials like Xu Huizu were filled with excitement.

Heavens, the generals finally have some action to take! We’ve been so idle!

It’s no wonder; the local regions are peaceful, and the borders are secure, except for a few issues in the southwest at Luchuan, there’s not much to do.

Though there are new army policies, endless days of training are not the solution. After all, how much military merit can one earn through training alone?

Soldiers join the army to protect their homeland and establish their military achievements!

Now, even though the scale of the Japanese pirates is not significant, they are still harming the people of Great Ming. As soldiers, how can they tolerate this?

Let’s go!

Xu Huizu clasped his hands and said, “Your Majesty, I am willing to personally go to the Jiangsu and Zhejiang region to quell the Japanese pirates troubles!”

Xie Jin rubbed his forehead, looking at Xu Huizu speechless.

First, Duke Li Jinglong went to Guangzhou to deal with small-scale pirates, now Duke Xu Huizu is going to Jiangsu and Zhejiang to deal with the Japanese pirates? You are all Dukes, Can’t you be more stable, no matter how much merit you achieved, you can’t get promoted anymore.

“I believe that this matter should not involve the Dukes. I recommend three individuals who can handle the maritime affairs!” Xie Jin stepped forward and shouted.

“Oh, whom does official Xie recommend?” Zhu Yunwen asked with interest.

Xie Jin confidently said, “Your Majesty, I recommend Vice Admiral of the Navy, Zheng He, as the main commander, and King of Yan’s subordinates, Zhang Yu and Zhu Neng, as his deputies. They will surely quell the maritime troubles.”

“Zhang Yu and Zhu Neng are both land-based generals. How can they serve as naval deputies?” Jing Qing interjected.

Xie Jin retorted, “Before Zheng He became Vice Admiral, he had never seen the sea either. Now his navy is highly elite. How can you official Jing, know whether they are suitable or not?”

Jing Qing sternly replied, “They are convicted criminals!”

“What crimes have they committed?!” Xie Jin asked.

Jing Qing opened his mouth but couldn’t clearly explain.

Whether Zhu Di was guilty or where his crime lay, the people from the Censorate couldn’t explain it clearly. The confidential documents were delivered through channels operated by the Great Ming Security Bureau and did not pass through the office of transmission.

They could only speculate and use Zhu Di’s pretended madness as an excuse to impeach him of “deceiving the emperor and concealing his true intentions.”

However, the Emperor publicly announced that Zhu Di was ill.

Therefore, the impeachment of deceiving the emperor and concealing his true intentions did not hold.

“Let’s go along with official Xie’s suggestion. Appoint Zhang Yu and Zhu Neng as naval deputies, accompanying Zheng He to eliminate the Japanese pirates! This matter is decided. Now, let’s discuss the land disputes!” Zhu Yunwen decisively moved on, turning to the most important topic of the court session today.

If they didn’t resolve the land disputes and curb land annexation, the future destiny of Great Ming would be nothing but the tragedy of “the ruler dies, and the state falls”!

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