Volume One, Chapter Nine: Zhu Quan's Analysis

“Heh! Does the Duke of Liang think that because you hold great military power, even if Zhu Yunwen ascends the throne, he must rely on you to suppress my brothers, and that’s why he dares not act against you?”

Zhu Quan faced Lan Yu, whose calm exterior was already crackling with murderous intent, and let out a derisive laugh.

Before Lan Yu could respond, Zhu Quan continued with a smile, “If you uncles and brothers think this way, then I can only say that death is but a step away for you all.”

The generals from Huai West glared angrily, some even raising their fists to teach Zhu Quan a lesson for his audacity.

Yet all their movements were halted by a single glance from Lan Yu.

Fixing his gaze on the effortlessly composed Zhu Quan, Lan Yu narrowed his eyes again. “What exactly do you mean?”

“Nothing in particular!” Zhu Quan shrugged, a faint smile playing on his lips.

After a moment, he glanced toward the dragon throne where the “Zhu Yuanzhang” sat, then said, “You think Zhu Yunwen dares not kill you only because you hold troops, but have you ever considered why our late father reformed the military system and established the Five Armies Command?”

“To divide power!” Zhang Wen, Marquis of Huaining, interjected, a flash of realization in his eyes.

“Exactly, to divide power.” Zhu Quan looked back at Zhang Wen with admiration, snapped his fingers, and continued, “Think again, if our father hadn’t died suddenly, and planned to appoint Zhu Yunwen as crown prince—”

“While Zhu Yunwen, as heir apparent, has no military experience or connections. Given our father’s temperament, how do you think he would have treated you uncles and brothers?”

“You all followed father through mountains of corpses and seas of blood, and survived the Hu Weiyong incident. Surely you understand better than I do.”

“Of course, you could say our father is dead, and what I’m saying will never come to pass…”

“But don’t forget who educated Zhu Yunwen. With the current political rift between civil and military officials, and the scholars clamoring for a ruler who governs by ‘hands-off’ rule, who do you think Zhu Yunwen would listen to once he ascends?”

“Even if he doesn’t move against you at the start, what about later?”

“When he’s firmly seated on the throne, and judges you uncles and brothers no longer useful, would he hesitate to strike at you or even your families?”

…

Dead silence.

After Zhu Quan’s words fell, the Qianqing Palace was engulfed in an eerie stillness. The Huai West generals stopped breathing entirely.

Knowing Zhu Yuanzhang as they did, if he were truly alive, he might very well have exterminated them all to pave the way for the future crown prince.

They had no doubt—otherwise Li Shanchang and Hu Weiyong wouldn’t have died, nor would tens of thousands have been implicated.

Moreover, given their knowledge of the civil officials, Zhu Quan’s later words seemed even more plausible. Civil and military officials have always been natural rivals at court, each seeking to outdo the other.

If an emperor educated by those civil officials took the throne, the civil faction would be unlikely to restrain their desire to utterly crush the military nobles.

Not only were Lan Yu and the others shocked by Zhu Quan’s analysis, but even Zhu Yuanzhang and his two companions behind the wall were speechless.

Zhu Yuanzhang was stunned by Zhu Quan’s keen insight—he himself had only just begun to consider clearing the path for Zhu Yunwen, yet Zhu Quan had seen through it so effortlessly.

Tang He and Fu Youde were truly shaken. They had never imagined that after the Hu Weiyong incident, Zhu Yuanzhang still had such ruthlessness in him. After all, most of the disobedient nobles had already been purged.

Besides, although the northern Mongols were subdued by Lan Yu in a decisive battle, they were not completely destroyed, so the court still needed strong military power as a deterrent.

Hence, they never thought Zhu Yuanzhang would raise the sword against his old brothers again. But after hearing Zhu Quan’s analysis, they were absolutely certain he would.

Especially Tang He, who had retired earlier, knew well that such actions were very much within Zhu Yuanzhang’s character.

Zhu Yuanzhang seemed to sense their thoughts, opening his mouth to explain, but clicking his tongue, he said nothing.

He simply did not know how to explain, and believed that to prevent the future emperor from being hindered or oppressed by arrogant generals, this was the most reasonable course.

He even agreed that Zhu Quan’s prediction of Zhu Yunwen’s potential actions after ascending the throne was in line with the interests of the Ming Dynasty. Only this way could the dynasty truly achieve long-lasting peace and stability.

At that moment, Zhu Yuanzhang’s gaze toward Zhu Quan shifted, becoming hesitant.

His opposition to Zhu Yunwen as crown prince seemed to vanish into thin air, replaced by thoughts of other options.

Of course, Zhu Yuanzhang’s current options did not include Zhu Quan. He even believed that if Zhu Quan could go this far, then the second, third, or even fourth sons might do better.

As Zhu Yuanzhang pondered which legitimate son to choose as heir after he assumed the throne tomorrow, the Huai West generals finally snapped out of their shock and fear.

Lan Yu, still the pillar of the group, looked at Zhu Quan and said, “Prince Ning, although we think what you say could happen, that alone is not enough for us to support you.”

“Though you’re right, we have other princes to support besides Zhu Yunwen. Prince Qin, Prince Jin, even Prince Yan are all legitimate heirs. Surely supporting anyone of them would be easier than supporting you!”

Though never explicitly saying, “How dare you, a mere son of a concubine, vie for the throne,” Lan Yu’s words implied just that.

Zhu Quan’s eyes slowly swept over the other nobles’ faces, a sneer forming in his heart, though his expression remained calm. “Indeed! As the Duke of Liang said, I am but a son of a concubine, and you can fully support my elder brothers.”

“But as the saying goes, the greater the risk, the greater the reward, right?”

“What can you offer us?” Lan Yu locked his gaze on Zhu Quan again, his breath growing heavy. “We are all high officials and hold great power, commanding formidable troops. I wonder what Prince Ning can offer to bargain with us?”

The true motives revealed.

Lan Yu finally laid bare everyone’s unspoken thoughts, brazenly discussing in front of Zhu Yuanzhang what benefits they would gain by supporting Zhu Quan’s rise.

…