King Xiang of the Red Chamber

Chapter 661: There are Two Kings in Jinling

Prince Xiang’s Palace, Tongxin Hall.

Because Zhu Jinghong was urgently called to the palace, apparently he was going to fight again, so all the ladies in the palace gathered there, waiting for Zhu Jinghong to return.

An hour passed quickly after waiting, and because Baochai looked thoughtful, everyone present became a little nervous.

Among them, Yang Jingting had the biggest mental fluctuations.

In the morning, she was first upset by Baochai, but when she got the chance, she was told that Zhu Jinghong would not go out, which made her happy mood go to waste.

But in the afternoon, news came from the palace that Zhu Jinghong was summoned to the palace for important instructions. She guessed that Zhu Jinghong was going to leave the capital, which meant that she would be able to accompany him again.

But when she asked Baochai about this, she ignored him completely, which made her feel uneasy, thinking that Baochai had changed her mind again.

The atmosphere in the hall was solemn until a eunuch outside reported, "The prince is back," and everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

As Baochai was the first to stand up, the others followed her out.

Everyone arrived at Yin'an Gate, and soon they saw Zhu Jinghong coming in with an extremely solemn expression.

"Meet the prince!"

As everyone was paying their respects, Zhu Jinghong looked at Baochai and said, "Tell someone to pack up right away. I'll leave tomorrow!"

"Departing tomorrow?" Baochai was very surprised.

She wanted to ask a few more questions, but Zhu Jinghong walked straight into the hall, obviously not wanting to say more in front of others.

After he left, Baochai ordered everyone to leave.

"Princess, if the prince is going to travel, should I also prepare?"

Baochai nodded and said, "You can take care of everything he needs!"

Yang Jingting's brows immediately lit up with joy, and after greeting Baochai, she turned around and prepared to leave.

Baochai didn't pay much attention to it, but went straight to the Yin'an Palace. At this moment, Zhu Jinghong was changing his clothes.

"what happened?"

"An urgent letter arrived at noon. On April 27, the Western Barbarian Navy bombarded Quanzhou Port and threatened to completely blockade the Ming Dynasty's sea borders!"

In other words, in just ten days, the Spaniards pressed forward step by step, and it was obvious that they were well prepared for this war.

"Now, the governors of all the coastal provinces have stepped up their alert to prevent the Western barbarians from coming ashore and invading!"

"It has become so serious!" Baochai was shocked.

After taking off his dragon robe, Zhu Jinghong walked to the coffee table and said, "When I went to the palace just now, His Majesty ordered me to control the various military commanders in the southeast, as well as the Liaodong, Jinling, and Zhejiang navies!"

With several military commanders in the southeast and three naval forces, the troops under Zhu Jinghong's command this time are more than the last time in Korea.

"This job is so difficult that it makes me... breathless!" Zhu Jinghong sighed.

"If it's really not possible, can you decline?"

As soon as the question was asked, Baochai knew it was impossible.

Once Zhu Jinghong retreats, the Sixth and Fourth Brothers will definitely take advantage of the situation and use his fear of fighting as a starting point to deconstruct the image he has established in the army.

Zhu Jinghong could just ignore the accusations against his moral character and learning, and he really didn't dare to be careless on this point.

Sitting on the chair next to Zhu Jinghong, Baochai grabbed his sleeve and said solemnly: "If you go to the southeast, you must mobilize troops. The sea is vast and there is no support. You can't take risks!"

This is the wife's concern for her husband. She is really afraid that something might happen to Zhu Jinghong.

"I'll pay attention!" Zhu Jinghong replied.

If you don't go to the front line in person, the so-called command of the operation is just bullshit, and you have already lost before the battle even starts.

With a smile on his face, Zhu Jinghong held his wife's hand and said, "I have read history books before and learned that when Emperor Taizong of Tang was young, he would personally charge into the front line in every tough battle, so he could boost morale and win every battle!"

"You also compare yourself to Emperor Taizong of Tang?" Baochai frowned.

"At the time, I was thinking that maybe he was forced into a desperate situation. If he didn't charge in person, he wouldn't be able to win. If he couldn't win, he would be defeated!"

So what Zhu Jinghong meant was that it was not that he liked to take risks at the front line, but that he had reasons to go.

Seeing that Baochai still looked worried, Zhu Jinghong smiled and said, "Don't worry... I will definitely not kill anyone again myself. I will try to stay as far away as possible!"

"You have to give me ten sons. You've only given birth to one. How can I bear to let you die out here?"

"Giving birth to ten children...what do you think of me!" Baochai turned her head away.

It seemed that she was flirting with Zhu Jinghong, but in fact, she was just forcing a smile because she was afraid that Zhu Jinghong would worry about her and would not be able to fight the enemy wholeheartedly.

Next, Baochai gave him a lot of instructions before saying goodbye and leaving. She wanted to personally check Zhu Jinghong's preparations for going out.

Although Yang Jingting was very careful, she was still worried.

"Call Deng An over here!"

"Yes!"

Inside the Yin'an Hall, Zhu Jinghong was wiping his sword. At the moment, he was both worried and excited, because he was about to face off against the so-called "great powers".

"Your Highness, Deng An has arrived!" Yu Hai reported from outside.

"Tell him to come in!"

"Yes!"

After a while, Deng An entered the study and knelt down in front of Zhu Jinghong very obediently.

There was no one else in the room at the moment, so Deng An could guess that there must be something important to tell him.

"You need to pay more attention to the second young lady of the Jia family...don't let her get bullied!"

Deng An thought there was something important, but he heard these words instead.

"Yes...I will definitely get it done!" Deng An replied quickly.

Zhu Jinghong then said, "If she is really in trouble, try to be as secretive as possible when you want to help her!"

In order to avoid misunderstanding among his supporters, Zhu Jinghong could only protect Yingchun quietly. After all, he had not yet become emperor.

"Yes!"

Although Deng An was puzzled, he had an absolutely obedient heart, so he agreed without hesitation.

After giving the order, Zhu Jinghong asked Deng An to leave. He then asked someone to get a nautical chart and began to analyze the current situation.

Everyone in the palace was busy preparing. Under the personal supervision of Princess Baochai, it only took one hour to select the daily expenses and the eunuchs and maids who would serve them.

Of course Yang Jingting was also prepared. This time she was not going alone, she also brought Zhang Xiaoyue and three others with her.

In the evening, Zhu Jinghong had dinner with the ladies in the mansion. Everyone was reluctant to leave, but Zhu Jinghong still said goodbye to them.

During this process, Keqing, who was pregnant, received extra care from Zhu Jinghong, who told her to take good care of herself.

Soon the next day arrived, and on May 20th, Zhu Jinghong's team set out.

This time, as in previous years, the emperor assigned him an additional 300 guards from the Bannerman Guard, and at the same time drew 3,000 cavalry from the Beijing camp, led by two lieutenant generals to accompany him on the expedition.

The reason for cavalry was that Zhu Jinghong needed mobile forces to quickly reinforce possible raids by the Western Barbarians.

In order to reach the southeast as quickly as possible, Zhu Jinghong left the palace behind and led the cavalry to go first. Here we talk about Zhu Jingyuan and his party. He set out from the capital on May 6, half a month earlier than Zhu Jinghong.

He would have learned about the situation on the southeast coast half a month earlier, so he concluded that something big had happened in the southeast.

This was an opportunity for him, so he quickened his pace.

It would normally take about a month to travel from the capital to Nanjing, but he arrived in just over twenty days.

On May 28, Zhu Jingyuan rushed to Yingtian Prefecture in Nanjing. As the prince with the highest status in the neighboring provinces, he felt that he should be the hero who turned the tide in the current chaos in the southeast.

Although he did not obtain authorization from the emperor, Zhu Jingyuan acted in an informal meeting and summoned the Jinling Military Commission, Jinling Navy, Zhejiang Military Commission, and Zhejiang Navy together on the seventh day of June to discuss strategies to guard against the Western Barbarians.

Zhu Jingyuan certainly understood the importance of military power, so this was an opportunity for him.

Even if he cannot command the battle, it would be very beneficial for him to build relationships with these generals.

The several commanders-in-chief and admirals of the navy did need someone of sufficient status to coordinate all matters related to coastal defense.

That’s right, it’s coordination, not command.

This was a workaround that could avoid the emperor's suspicion of them, and the responsibility would be attributed to Zhu Jingyuan who came forward.

The two parties involved each get what they need, so it is normal for them to come together.

Inside the palace of Yingtian Prefecture, Zhu Jingyuan, who was sitting in the main seat, was looking at the generals who were discussing something. Although he wanted to interject a few words, he couldn't because he didn't understand the real situation.

Bored, Zhu Jingyuan ordered the eunuch beside him: "The weather is hot, order someone to fetch some iced sour plum soup to quench the thirst of the generals!"

"Yes!"

After arranging this matter, Zhu Jingyuan listened carefully again.

At this moment, the two naval admirals were arguing about whether to go to war, and the scene instantly became tense.

"You two, please come and discuss anything, and don't ruin the relationship!" Zhu Jingyuan advised. This was when he could take action.

"Sixth Master, our army is now scattered and it is difficult to compete with the Western Barbarians. If we rush into battle rashly..."

"Sixth Master, he is too self-deprecating. You must know..."

My goodness, after Zhu Jingyuan's advice, the two people quarreled even more fiercely, and Zhu Jingyuan couldn't stop them at all.

How dare these soldiers act so presumptuously in front of me... Zhu Jingyuan was furious in his heart, but still had a smile on his face.

At this moment, a man suddenly came in from outside. It was Jia Zhiping, a captain of the Jinling Jinling Guard.

"Generals, His Royal Highness Prince Xiang has been ordered to preside over the war in the southeast. He has now arrived at the Jinling Military Commissioner's Office and summoned you to come and discuss matters immediately..."

Zhu Jinghong set out on May 20th, and it has only taken him 17 days to reach his destination. He traveled much faster than Zhu Jingyuan.

Jia Zhiping's words contain a huge amount of information.

First, Zhu Jinghong had arrived, and second, he would be in charge of the war in the southeast. Both pieces of news excited everyone present.

The two who were arguing shut up at this moment, then clasped their fists and saluted Zhu Jingyuan, saying, "Sixth Master, Thirteenth Master, since you are here by order, we dare not neglect you!"

"I take my leave..."

"I take my leave..."

In a few breaths, all the generals that Zhu Jingyuan had summoned with great difficulty left the hall in a flash, heading for the Dusi Yamen not far from the palace.

Inside the hall, Zhu Jingyuan had a stern expression. At this moment he felt extremely humiliated.

These stinky bastards actually ignored him, left him behind and went straight to find Zhu Jinghong.

"Old Thirteen, you are still the best!" Zhu Jingyuan murmured in a low voice.

At this moment, in his mind, the level of danger Zhu Jinghong was once again raised to the highest level.

Old man, old man, without Old Thirteen, will there be no one in the Ming Dynasty who can fight?

And he sent the Thirteenth Prince to take charge of the situation. When the day comes when the Thirteenth Prince has grown strong enough, he will push you over to become the emperor. I don't think you will be able to even cry!
Zhu Jingyuan screamed in anger in his heart, his hands tightly gripping the armrests of the chair. At this moment, he had the urge to smash something.

But he was, after all, a man of high character and shrewdness. Not only did he suppress his anger, he also planned to visit Zhu Jinghong.

If you don't come to see my sixth brother, I can always go to see you in person... Zhu Jinghong sneered.

Then he drank a cup of sour plum soup to relieve the heat, and then ordered people to prepare the carriage and sedan chair, and set off for the Dusi Yamen.

Back in the Jinling Military Commission's office, when all the generals had arrived, the accompanying eunuch read out the imperial edict first, confirming his title as the general commanding the troops in the southeast.

Next comes the specific discussion session.

Compared with the meeting organized by Zhu Jingyuan, Zhu Jinghong was obviously able to control the situation, and the senior generals present reported the situation to him carefully and meticulously.

After listening to the latest situation, Zhu Jinghong ordered everyone to come up with countermeasures. Of course, there were disputes in the process, but Zhu Jinghong was able to control them so the meeting was still efficient.

The current situation is that after the initial continuous attacks, the Western Yi fleet retreated due to supply problems, and it is completely unknown when the next wave will arrive.

Now that the enemy has retreated, Wang Long, the admiral of the Jinling Navy, suggested setting up an ambush in advance and catching the Western Barbarians off guard when they return.

Xu Minglin, the admiral of the Zhejiang Navy, proposed relying on the coastal defense, strictly guarding against the enemy to consume the energy and warships of the Western barbarians, and then waiting for an opportunity to attack them.

Both of their arguments make sense, but it is up to Zhu Jinghong to make the decision.

Contrary to everyone's expectations, Zhu Jinghong chose a relatively conservative plan, which was to defend the situation with all his might as Xu Minglin said.

The reason for this is that he was not absolutely sure of winning and had to wait for the Liaodong navy to arrive.

As for how long it would take for the Liaodong navy to arrive, it was completely uncertain. It might take a month or even longer. They might be discovered and annihilated by the Western barbarians on the way.

No matter what, the strategy has been decided and no one can question it.

Zhu Jinghong stood up at the main seat in the lobby and looked at everyone with a stern expression.

"Everyone, when the army is fighting, we must enforce discipline, only then will we have a chance of victory!"

"Today's strategy has been decided. You must strictly implement it. Anyone who disobeys my orders, from soldiers to commanders and admirals, will be executed first and reported later..."

In fact, the imperial edict stated that Zhu Jinghong could execute people of the fifth rank and below first and report later, so his words were clearly an overstepping of authority.

But no one present dared to point it out at this time, and they believed that Zhu Jinghong really dared to kill people.

However, people did not resist this, but felt encouraged and excited.

In the past few years, Zhu Jinghong has led his troops to great victories in battle. Everyone present hopes and believes that he can continue his legendary story.

Lead everyone from victory to new victory.

"We obey your command!" Everyone bowed respectfully.

At this moment, outside the hall, Zhu Jingyuan's mood became low again, because the situation when he presided over the meeting was so pale in comparison with the situation in the hall.

The soldiers who had been arrogant and domineering in front of him now became as obedient as good children, and even tried their best to show their submission when Zhu Jinghong threatened them.

"Old Thirteen, Old Thirteen, you are really good..."

After saying this in his heart, Zhu Jingyuan smiled heartily and said loudly: "Thirteenth brother, I knew you were coming!"

After saying that, Zhu Jingyuan walked straight into the hall. The generals inside consciously made way for him so that Zhu Jingyuan could walk into the hall smoothly.

Zhu Jinghong walked past the desk and came to the center of the hall and said, "Sixth brother, the matter is urgent. I can only do the imperial errand first. I can't come to visit you. Please don't blame me!"

(End of this chapter)