Chapter 21 Is there really a time traveler around Old Zhu?

"what?"

There's no reason for an emperor to borrow money from his subjects.

"Shh!"

Hearing Zhu Di shout, Zhu Yuanzhang quickly ran over and covered Zhu Di's mouth, slapping him in the face.

"Don't shout! You only need to know about this, your father. No one else can know."

Zhu Di gave an "Oh" and said indifferently:

"Dad, I understand, you're just embarrassed."

Zhu Yuanzhang blushed and glared at Zhu Di:

"What's there to be ashamed of? We're just worried that our descendants will go astray. Anyway, lend your father 300,000 taels first."

Zhu Di suddenly stood up:

"Dad! Why don't you just rob someone?!"

Last year, the Ministry of Revenue of the Ming Dynasty had a fiscal surplus of only one million taels.

Seeing that his father rarely asked him for help, Zhu Di softened and sighed.

"Father! I really don't have the money. Building a new capital is too expensive!"

Zhu Di complained.

It wasn't that he didn't want to lend the money; building a new capital was a bottomless pit. If the capital was built on the frontier, the defensive fortifications would definitely have to be top-notch. At the same time, since it was the capital, its political and economic functions had to be strengthened.

This places extremely high demands on the new city and is even more expensive.

Two hundred thousand taels.

Zhu Yuanzhang cautiously tested the waters.

"Dad! I really have no money left!"

"150,000?"

"I have no money."

"One hundred thousand?"

"..."

Zhu Yuanzhang became anxious.

He remembered that the fourth prince's successful rebellion was largely due to his ability to persuade Zhu Gaoxu to serve him.

Zhu Yuanzhang immediately learned it, and he patted Zhu Di on the shoulder:

"Fourth brother, you look just like your father, even more like him than your eldest brother."

Zhu Di not only adapted to this abrupt change of topic, but was also deeply moved by his father's words:

"Father, I know, I know everything..."

You know nothing! When we were kids, we weren't as naughty as you. After I became emperor, I studied more books than you. You're nothing like me.

However, Zhu Yuanzhang only thought these words to himself. He still needed to borrow money from his fourth son, so how could he say such a thing?

Zhu Yuanzhang patted Zhu Di on the shoulder again:

"Fourth brother, Yunwen is too young, you should encourage him."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Di was visibly shaken.

This statement can no longer be considered a hint; it's an explicit indication that the throne will be passed on to his fourth son.

"Father, I'll lend you thirty thousand taels."

Zhu Yuanzhang was still thinking about how to trick his fourth son, but unexpectedly, his fourth son gave him money directly.

No wonder the fourth brother in the simulator likes to say "You should strive to do your best"; it turns out that this phrase is so useful.

"Dad, when are you going to pay me back?"

return?

You gave the money to Old Zhu, and now you want Old Zhu to pay you back?

Zhu Yuanzhang was very serious:

"Would Dad renege on such a small amount of money?"

"Father, I definitely believe you."

"Um."

……

Through these maneuvers, Zhu Yuanzhang successfully obtained the initial funding for his voyages to the Western Ocean from Zhu Di.

Then, in a boastful manner, he announced in the imperial court that he would launch a voyage to the Western Ocean, and that the Ministry of Revenue would not be responsible for the funding.

The ministers did not understand. Outside of the Ming Dynasty, there were only uncivilized lands. Perhaps the distant West was a civilized country like the Ming Dynasty, but it was too far away from the Ming Dynasty. What benefits could the Ming Dynasty bring to the West besides wasting manpower and resources?

But no one dared to contradict Zhu Yuanzhang's imperial edict.

The plan to sail to the Western Ocean also reached Zhu Gaoxi's ears.

"Sailing to the Western Ocean?"

"First they valued my father, the Prince of Yan, and then they sent him on his voyages to the West? Did Old Zhu really have a time traveler by his side?"

"But this time traveler doesn't seem to know much about history; it's all fragmented."

"Now it seems that regardless of whether there are any time travelers around Old Zhu, he probably knows some things about the future. In other words, it is likely safe for our father to openly compete for the throne. At most, he will be beaten up a few times because of the temple name of Emperor Chengzu."

Zhu Gaoxi paced back and forth in his room.

……

Zhu Yuanzhang was very pleased with himself after securing the funds for the voyages to the Western Ocean.

He remembered the promise he had made to Zhu Biao.

Since he couldn't let Yunwen inherit the throne, he had to let Zhu Yunwen and Zhu Yunwen live a carefree life as wealthy princes.

Yunwen was the crown prince, and when the fourth prince succeeds to the throne, even if the fourth prince doesn't care, his ministers will care a lot.

Therefore, Yunwen must have merits, but too many merits would be detrimental to the emperor.

Zhu Yuanzhang thought about it and decided that the voyages to the Western Ocean were a good idea. However, according to the simulator and the current opinions of the court officials, the voyages to the Western Ocean were currently a waste of manpower and resources. It would only become a success after they arrived and discovered the new continent.

In this way, even if Yunwen's reputation was damaged in the early years of the Yongle reign due to his involvement in "wasting money and resources on the people," he would not be wary of the fourth prince and his ministers. Later, after his voyages to the Western Ocean became a success, Yunwen could still enjoy a life of wealth and honor.

We've really put a lot of effort into Yunwen.

"Since we haven't found Zheng He, let's entrust the task of his voyages to Yunwen for now."

Zhu Yunwen arrived at the Jinshen Hall and met Zhu Yuanzhang:

"grandfather."

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded:

"Yunwen, we plan to entrust the voyages to you."

Zhu Yunwen's mind raced.

Currently, among the court officials, sending voyages to the Western Ocean is seen as a complete waste of resources and manpower.

Grandpa is going to give me this wasteful and labor-intensive task? And then give the construction of the capital to my fourth uncle?

Grandpa, aren't you setting me up for something?

"Grandpa, the government's affairs network is still not finished, so we really don't have the time to deal with the voyages to the West."

Zhu Yunwen made an excuse to refuse.

Zhu Yuanzhang said:

"The affairs of the imperial court can wait. Your grandfather has only one wish now: to demonstrate the prestige of the Ming Dynasty in the West. Don't you want to fulfill your grandfather's wish?"

"Grandpa, the Ming Dynasty is in dire need of rebuilding, and it will take a few more years to restore our national prestige."

"Right now, it's just the initial shipbuilding project. Yunwen, this world will be yours sooner or later."

Zhu Yuanzhang lay on the bed, turned to the side, propped his face up, and began to deceive his grandson.

This world will be yours sooner or later... This world will be yours sooner or later...

Zhu Yunwen blushed deeply at these words, his face flushed, and he began to breathe rapidly.

Seeing that his words had worked, Zhu Yuanzhang continued:

"Yunwen, you're just like me."

"He looks more like us than your father."

"Don't worry about your fourth uncle. He's not as young as you, Yunwen. You should strive to improve him!"

Zhu Yunwen's breathing became increasingly rapid. After suppressing his heartbeat for a moment, he replied directly:

"Grandpa, I promise to fulfill your wish and handle the voyages to the West well."

"Oh, right, your brother Gao Xi is also going to study now. If you do well in your studies, you can come to the palace often to teach little Gao Xi."

Zhu Yuanzhang made two preparations, wanting to cultivate a relationship between Zhu Yunwen and Zhu Gaoxi. Since the fourth prince liked Gaoxi so much, if Zhu Yunwen and Zhu Gaoxi were friends, Gaoxi would definitely protect Yunwen if something happened to him.

Zhu Yunwen was still distracted and didn't hear what Zhu Yuanzhang was saying. He vaguely agreed.

After arranging everything, Zhu Yuanzhang was in a great mood.

Then I opened the emulator and prepared to start the simulation.

"We've made so many arrangements this time, and it's even taken away some of the credit for the fourth prince's voyages to the West and his discovery of the New World. The Daoist Emperor isn't allowed to succeed to the throne either, so the fourth prince can't possibly still be the Chengzu Emperor, can he?"