Chapter 102: Dainai Yoshihiro: Your Majesty, You Must Stop Entertaining Thoughts of Rebellion!
“What are you all doing!”
Zhu Zhanji of the Yongle era plopped down boldly into the pool. Earlier, when Zhu Youjian left, he had asked him to watch over the children.
“Great-grandfather.”
Little Zhu Jian Shen gently rubbed the wet head of little Zhu Qizhen, his small face smiling obediently. “I’m washing my father’s head.”
“Is that so.”
Zhu Zhanji raised an eyebrow, looking at little Zhu Qizhen’s pitiful expression without a word.
He picked up Zhu Qizhen, examined him from head to toe, found no obvious injuries, then patted his bottom with satisfaction. “Go play.”
Zhu Qizhen splashed around in the water for a while, then stood up and chirped brightly, “Yes, Father Emperor, Brother Shen washed it clean!”
Hmm?
Zhu Zhanji squinted at little Zhu Jian Shen, his expression strange. “Brother Shen?”
“Not at all!”
Zhu Jian Shen quickly denied it. “Grandfather, don’t curse my life! Come on, eldest uncle, uncle, father, let’s help grandfather wash his back.”
“All right, all right!”
The three little Zhu boys eagerly rubbed his arms and legs.
Zhu Zhanji’s mouth twitched; he looked exasperated. “Oh dear, eldest uncle, you better rest. Don’t dare to lay hands on me!”
“By the rules, I must serve you.”
Zhu Xiongying, four years older than his chubby father, was still a child now, but Zhu Yuanzhang’s gaze never left this eldest grandson.
If he saw such presumption, let alone taking action, even a single glance from his inept emperor grandfather and chubby father would be enough to make them give him a beating!
“No need to serve me!”
Zhu Xiongying was full of pride, patting little Zhu of Yongle, and muttering, “As long as you listen to Shen in the future…”
“Hey!”
Zhu Jian Shen almost lost control, quickly covering his mouth, smiling wryly. “Eldest uncle mustn’t say everything!”
That would be like reversing the natural order.
...
“What a clever child!”
Zhu Yuanzhang cheerfully wiped his body, watching the lively little Zhu boys, smiling from ear to ear.
Turning back, he saw his fourth son sweating profusely and asked, “How are you, tired?”
“Father is only doing this for my own good. It looks like scrubbing my back but actually helps strengthen my body!”
Old Zhu Di spoke seriously but nonsense.
Glancing at his two chubby sons, who were snoring loudly in their sleep, he suddenly grew very annoyed.
“Hmm, not bad. Your fourth son is learning to understand my intentions,” Zhu Yuanzhang nodded with satisfaction, clearly amused.
No matter what else, Old Zhu Di at least offered emotional support to Zhu Yuanzhang, making him feel increasingly comfortable with his fourth son lately.
“Also, how are things with Jianwen on the northern side with the Wokou?” Zhu Yuanzhang squatted beside the children’s pool, playing with the four kids while asking.
...
“The three Ashikaga have all gone north. According to Father’s plan, some will be won over, some suppressed, and some dealt with. Jianwen’s side should be settled soon,” Old Zhu Di respectfully replied.
Zhu Yuanzhang nodded, put on his clothes, and stood with his hands behind his back.
Not long after,
Bang!
Two figures landed.
“That’s enough. I’m serious — enough already!”
Jianwen Zhu Gaoxu was on all fours, exhausted to the point of sticking out his tongue. The pots tied to his hands and feet made them look like hooves, and he stubbornly refused to give in.
Zhu the Fourth appeared, panting heavily. “Killing two devils makes you so proud? If you had wiped out the entire Wokou Island, wouldn’t your tail be wagging to the sky?”
“Father, enough! If I stick my butt out any more, it’ll be in the sky soon. Please loosen these pots! I really know I was wrong!” Jianwen Zhu Gaoxu was highly irritated.
Looking at the pots, he felt an inexplicable chill, a sense of dread.
Zhu the Fourth snorted coldly. “Wrong? What mistake have you made?”
“I should have wiped out all the Wokou before the Emperor Grandfather and you came. I was slow and didn’t finish the job. I admit my mistake!” Zhu Gaoxu said honestly.
“Well, well, you’re not wrong,” Zhu the Fourth almost got angry but then paused, realizing he actually had a point.
Old Zhu walked over with his hands behind his back, scolding, “Enough, Fourth Son. Let’s consider this a light punishment for a grave warning. You’re not done yet.”
Killing some devils is nothing!
And it doesn’t consume much rice!
The Grand Ancestor’s order was clear, and Zhu the Fourth dared not argue, letting Zhu Youjian collect the pots.
Jianwen Zhu Gaoxu stretched and breathed out comfortably, grateful: “Thank you, Emperor Grandfather, may you live long and prosper.”
“Cut the flattery. Follow your father well from now on,” Zhu Yuanzhang nodded.
Jianwen Zhu Gaoxu nodded repeatedly.
Old Zhu turned to say, “Eldest grandson, let’s set off. If those northern Wokou return, it’ll waste a lot of time.”
Teleportation is addictive after frequent use; anywhere else feels slow compared to zipping through different dynasties in an instant.
“All right!”
Zhu Youjian nodded.
He urged the half-grown boys to dress quickly, and the group headed to Ashikaga Yoshimitsu’s location.
...
North of the Goto Islands.
Dewa Province.
Ouchi Yoshihiro held a samurai sword to the neck of the retired Emperor Komatsu, solemnly saying, “Your Majesty, please do not entertain thoughts of rebellion!”
Hmm?
Retired Emperor Komatsu looked dazed and muttered, “The Huanglong River area...”
Alive was just a waste of air.
Snicker!
“Your Majesty, I apologize. To prevent your suicide, I had no choice but to kill you!” Ouchi Yoshihiro drew his sword, sorrowfully holding the head of retired Emperor Komatsu, kneeling before Ashikaga Yoshimitsu with respect. “General, the emperor knew he offended the Celestial Empire and was unforgivable, so he took his own life to atone!”
“The emperor is confused!” Ashikaga Yoshimitsu solemnly took the head, sighing.
“General, what about the so-called Yamana Tokiyoshi of the one-sixth palace? Should we eliminate him to prevent future troubles?” Ouchi Yoshihiro cautiously asked.
Ashikaga Yoshimitsu shot him a glance, secretly scoffing. If I could eliminate him, I wouldn’t need you to do it.
You scoundrel! When I wanted to build a palace, you told me samurai only needed to pledge loyalty. I was so poor I lived years in temples. I really wanted to curse you, immortal!
“Yoshihiro, if the Ouchi clan can’t handle the mere Yamana clan, then your role as guardian of the Zhou Cang region is shameful before its elders!”
“Ha! General, I know what to do!” Ouchi Yoshihiro respectfully replied.
Mutsu Province.
Similarly, Ashikaga Yoshinori was speaking to Yamana Tokiyoshi:
“Tokiyoshi, if the Yamana clan cannot overcome the mere Ouchi clan, the title ‘one-sixth palace’ will become a laughingstock in Japan!”
“Your Highness, the one-sixth palace fears no Ouchi!” Yamana Tokiyoshi stood tall and proud. The Yamana clan once controlled eleven of the sixty-six provinces of the Wokou islands, full of arrogance.
...
With the treaty in hand, the Jianwen era Wokou’s Goto Islands belonged to the Ming Dynasty, with one-quarter of the upper island divided between the Yamana and Ouchi clans.
This was a secret order from Zhu Yuanzhang.
Henceforth, this would be Ming’s natural training ground. The feudal lords stationed in Wokou needed to be vigorous!
Moreover, the combined subjects under these two clans were fewer than a hundred thousand, each bringing a few hundred warriors. Just managing internal strife would exhaust one or two generations.
“Well done,” Zhu Yuanzhang glanced at the two.
Eldest son Ashikaga Yoshimochi had kicked Ashikaga Yoshimitsu out of the house at three in the morning. So during this northern trip, he sharpened his knife and opened his mind.
“Holy Emperor! Your servant will die for the Ming!” Ashikaga Yoshimitsu bowed respectfully.
Since witnessing Jianwen Wokou slaughtered by Zhu Gaoxu, he immediately worshiped Zhu Yuanzhang as the merciful Bodhisattva!
If left to Zhu Gaoxu, Japan’s Wokou tribes would be on the brink of extinction.
[Hongwu Dynasty National Luck increased: Second stage reward ‘Revival’]
[Jianwen Dynasty National Luck increased: Third stage reward ‘Steam Light Cruiser Blueprint’]
[Yongle Dynasty National Luck increased: Second stage reward ‘Twin 343mm Naval Guns’]
...