The atmosphere inside Huagai Hall was extremely cold.
Yet although he was scolding them, Zhu Yuanzhang himself felt somewhat relieved in his heart, and once again clearly sensed the usefulness of the light screen.
The last time he had felt such emotion had been when he learned of the death of Lady Ma, and when he learned that Biao'er's overwork would shorten his lifespan.
However, regarding those misfortunes, Dai Sigong had already explained clearly to him that they were matters such as "an illness accidentally contracted" or "a minor sickness that happened to become grave."
Therefore, when comparing them carefully, one could see how different the Lin Xian case was.
First of all, it was indeed true that Lin Xian had been impeached by Hu Weiyong, demoted, and sent to Japan for three years. Zhu Yuanzhang remembered clearly that later Hu Weiyong had also submitted a memorial requesting that Lin Xian be restored to his original post.
Moreover, when Lin Xian returned to office he had submitted a memorial describing his three years in Japan as a report of duty. At that time it had still been the twelfth year of Hongwu, and there had been no light screen to analyze the situation in Japan. After reading the memorial, Zhu Yuanzhang had simply approved the request for his reinstatement.
But now that he already understood the situation of Japan, when he recalled the memorial submitted by Lin Xian, Commandant of the Mingzhou Guard, it now seemed to contain many doubtful points.
If that were the case, then Lin Xian, whom Hu Weiyong had treated as a trusted confidant, most likely had not gone to Japan at all. If so, there was only one possible reason for his voyage across the sea.
He must have gone to collude with the remnants of the anti-Ming forces and the Wakō.
And when Zhu Yuanzhang further thought that Lin Xian still currently controlled the defenses of Mingzhou, he even felt the urge to personally muster troops and march upon Mingzhou.
However, that thought remained only a thought.
Hu Weiyong had been executed for more than a year, yet Lin Xian had still made no move. Most likely he believed that he had already escaped suspicion. If troops were suddenly mobilized now, it might instead alert him.
But no matter what, Lin Xian's affair was entirely different from those matters of "accidental illness" that had befallen his wife and son. Once Lin Xian was captured, the truth would certainly become clear.
The question was whom to send to Mingzhou without alerting the enemy.
"Your Majesty, let me go to Mingzhou," Li Wenzhong suddenly said. "Just give me a naval commander as well."
"No matter what connections he has, I will root them all out. Perhaps I can even wipe out all the sea bandits and Wakō around Mingzhou in one stroke."
Li Wenzhong spoke loudly, already rubbing his fists in excitement.
Zhu Yuanzhang looked at this excellent nephew of his and nodded.
Good. That eliminated one candidate.
He knew the Ming navy very well. On rivers and lakes it was unrivaled, but if it were sent from Mingzhou to chase pirates at sea, it would be like using heavy cavalry to hunt sparrows. Its strengths could not be displayed.
Thus Zhu Yuanzhang said calmly,
"When the sea is calm, the people are at peace. Ningbo is indeed a fine name."
Li Wenzhong became even more anxious.
"Uncle…"
This attitude immediately caused Zhu Yuanzhang's brows to rise.
"What are you in such a hurry for? The envoy of the Japanese shogun must first return to his country to report my words, and then come back to the Ming. If we wish to pacify the Wakō, how can we act rashly?"
The meaning behind those words was extremely clear.
Li Wenzhong was stunned for a moment, then overjoyed.
His uncle's meaning could not be clearer. When the time came to negotiate maritime pacification with the Japanese shogun's envoy, he would likely be responsible.
And when he thought about it, it made sense. His uncle was busy with state affairs. How could the Son of Heaven personally lower himself to discuss such matters in detail with a foreign envoy?
Thus Li Wenzhong stepped forward slightly, a strange smile appearing on his face.
"Your Majesty, if we follow what later generations say, it will still take ten years before Japan is unified…"
Some things needed only to be started and did not require further explanation.
Zhu Yuanzhang frowned and fell silent for a moment.
"Let me think about it again."
While the Ming emperor was still pondering there, behind him Prince Zhu Zhen of Chu cautiously asked Zhu Di a question.
"Fourth Brother, that Da Gao… it will not be like the Ancestral Instructions Record, will it?"
The moment Zhu Zhen said this, the expressions on several princes' faces became quite colorful.
Zhu Su was the first to object.
"A Gao is a proclamation from above to those below. Both the Duke of Zhou and Wang Mang issued great proclamations. They were meant to address the people of the entire realm. How could it be something like the Ancestral Instructions that binds only us?"
However, Zhu Su was the only one who held that view.
The other brothers were far more pessimistic.
"But are we brothers not also counted among the people of the realm?"
"And from the way the later generations speak, the one they cited is called the Third Compilation of the Da Gao. Does that not mean there must also be a first compilation, just like…"
"Just like the Ancestral Instructions Record. Father has already revised that several times since the founding of the Ming."
"It seems Father gained experience from disciplining us brothers, and so decided to use it to discipline the entire realm."
"In that case, we brothers truly have become examples for all under Heaven."
"With both the Ancestral Instructions and the Da Gao, the people of the realm must listen to Father's teachings as well. Thinking of it that way, I feel much more balanced."
The princes' discussion grew somewhat heated.
Zhu Yuanzhang turned his head back in curiosity.
"What are you discussing?"
At once the princes fell silent.
Standing at the front, Zhu Biao forced a smile.
"We were saying that Father, like the Duke of Zhou, proclaims the Da Gao to instruct the people of the realm. It truly carries the air of ancient sages."
These words from his eldest son greatly pleased Zhu Yuanzhang.
"Since Biao'er says so, then this year I shall revise the Precious Instructions Record once more. After that I will begin composing the Da Gao."
The smiles on Zhu Biao and the others' faces became even more strained.
[Lightscreen]
[From the Lin Xian case we can conclude that Hu Weiyong's confrontation with Zhu Yuanzhang began earlier than previously thought. The so-called collusion with Japan, or rather collusion with the pirates of the southeastern seas, in fact dates back to before the twelfth year of Hongwu.
However, this conclusion directly conflicts with the events recorded as the third stage of the Hu Weiyong case in the History of Ming, namely:
The Li Shanchang Treason Case.]
With only a few words, a loud clang suddenly echoed through Huagai Hall.
Everyone turned to look.
Li Wenzhong was climbing up from the floor, supporting himself on a chair while apologizing awkwardly.
"I was only shocked by the ability of the Grand Censor."
In truth, it was not only Li Wenzhong.
Even Xu Da, normally the most steady among them, could hardly maintain his composure. He kept turning his head to glance repeatedly at Li Shanchang.
After setting his chair upright again, Li Wenzhong moved it farther away from Li Shanchang and muttered quietly,
"The Qinhuai River will not turn out like the Luo River, will it…"
These low words caused Xu Da's expression to twist into something strange, and in the end he simply turned his head away.
Li Shanchang, who had been sitting weakly before, suddenly stood up.
"Your Majesty… I absolutely harbor no ambitions like Sima Yi. I have never had any intention of rebellion."
Seeing the violently heaving chest and the somewhat disheveled hair of his former colleague, Zhu Yuanzhang's heart softened for a moment.
He nodded.
"Since later generations say there is a conflict in the records, we may observe further and see how justice may be done for Shanchang."
[Lightscreen]
[Whether it is Li Shanchang's treason or the claim that Hu Weiyong and Li Shanchang conspired together, the relevant accounts appear in both the Veritable Records and the History of Ming. Let us first quickly review the records.
According to those accounts, in the ninth month of the tenth year of Hongwu, Hu Weiyong told Li Cunyi, the younger brother of Li Shanchang, about his plan to rebel and asked him to persuade his elder brother.
"Brother, let us rebel."
Li Shanchang paid him no attention at all and merely thought his younger brother's head had been caught in a door.
Hu Weiyong did not give up. In the eleventh month he personally visited Li Shanchang's residence and tried to persuade his former superior again.
"When we rebel, I will make you Prince of Huaixi."
Li Shanchang still refused, though his attitude had already softened somewhat.
Thus Hu Weiyong continued persuading him from the tenth year of Hongwu all the way until the eighth month of the twelfth year of Hongwu.
At last Li Shanchang changed his tone when speaking to his younger brother and said only one sentence:
"I am old. You may do as you please."
Hu Weiyong took this as tacit approval, and only then did he begin making intensive preparations for rebellion.]