Ming Dynasty: He was ordered to give lectures in prison, but Lao Zhu eavesdropped and made people nu

Chapter 722 The Embroidered Uniform Guard's Hidden Move
As dawn broke, the outline of Nanjing gradually became clear through the thin mist. Inside the Forbidden City, the palace servants had already begun their busy day, but the lights in the Imperial Study remained bright, as if vying with the rising sun for its last rays.

After Wang Wenlong left, Zhu Yuanzhang remained standing in front of the sand table, his gaze fixed intently on the small flags representing the enemy. His fingers tapped lightly on the edge of the sand table, producing a dull sound.

"Your Majesty, you should rest," Empress Ma said softly, her eyes showing weariness, yet she maintained her dignified demeanor.

Zhu Yuanzhang shook his head, his voice low and deep: "Empress, how credible do you think Wang Baobao's words are?"

Empress Ma pondered for a moment, then said, "Brother Xu was extremely accurate in judging people during his lifetime. His trust in this person must have its reasons. Moreover, Wang Baobao's willingness to appear before the Emperor today in his true identity demonstrates his resolve."

Zhu Yuanzhang sneered, "Human hearts are unpredictable. His daring to come today might indicate he has ulterior motives."

Empress Ma sighed softly, "If Your Majesty is truly worried, why not send someone to investigate secretly?"

Zhu Yuanzhang's gaze sharpened, and he immediately called out, "Guards!"

Outside the Imperial Study, a commander of the Imperial Guard quickly entered and knelt on one knee: "Your Majesty."

"By my decree, Jiang Huan is to come to the palace to see me immediately."

"As you command."

After the Imperial Guards withdrew, Empress Ma frowned slightly: "Does Your Majesty intend to have Commander Jiang monitor Wang Baobao?"

Zhu Yuanzhang said calmly, "Jiang Huan is reliable in his work, and I trust him."

Empress Ma hesitated for a moment, then finally said softly, "Your Majesty is wise."

Half an hour later, Jiang Huan, the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, hurriedly entered the palace. He was thin, with a cold and stern face, and his eyes were as sharp as a hawk's. He moved silently, like a shadow.

"Your subject Jiang Huan pays his respects to Your Majesty."

Zhu Yuanzhang raised his hand to gesture for him to stand up, and said in a deep voice, "I have an important matter to entrust to you."

Jiang Huan bowed his head: "Please give your orders, Your Majesty."

Have you ever heard of Wang Baobao?

A flicker of surprise crossed Jiang Huan's eyes, but he quickly regained his composure: "Your Majesty, this man is a former subordinate of the famous Yuan Dynasty general Kökö Temür. His whereabouts are unknown after the Battle of Taiyuan."

Zhu Yuanzhang sneered: "He is now using the alias Wang Wenlong and just left my study."

Jiang Huan's pupils contracted slightly: "Your Majesty means..."

"I have appointed him as the Deputy General Who Conquers the Barbarians, in charge of military affairs in the north." Zhu Yuanzhang stared at Jiang Huan, "But this man's status is special, and I cannot completely trust him."

Jiang Huan immediately understood: "Your Majesty, I understand. I will send someone to keep an eye on him secretly."

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded slightly: "Remember, don't alert him. I need to know his every move, including everyone he comes into contact with."

"I obey the decree."

Zhu Yuanzhang pondered for a moment, then said, "Furthermore, the younger brother of Zhang Tao, the general of Shanxi, is colluding with the Oirats. Investigate this matter as well."

A cold glint flashed in Jiang Huan's eyes: "Your Majesty, rest assured, I will investigate thoroughly."

Zhu Yuanzhang waved his hand: "Go."

Jiang Huan bowed and withdrew, his figure quickly disappearing into the morning light.

Meanwhile, Wang Wenlong had already left the palace and rode straight to the military camp on the outskirts of Beijing.

In the early morning, the soldiers in the military camp had just begun their drills, their shouts of battle deafening. Wang Wenlong dismounted and strode towards the drill ground. Several generals saluted him upon his arrival.

"General Wang!"

Wang Wenlong nodded in acknowledgment, then announced loudly, "Pass down the order: summon all soldiers fluent in Mongolian and familiar with the northern terrain. They are to assemble at the drill ground in half an hour!"

"Yes!" Before long, hundreds of soldiers had gathered on the drill ground. Wang Wenlong's eyes flashed like lightning as he scanned the faces of the crowd and finally selected fifty men.

"You fifty men will be incorporated into the special operations team, effective immediately, and will be under my personal command," Wang Wenlong said in a deep voice. "This mission is extremely dangerous. Anyone who is unwilling may withdraw now."

No one answered.

Wang Wenlong nodded in satisfaction: "Very good."

Just then, a slender soldier stepped forward, clasped his hands in a fist salute, and said, "General, I have a request."

Wang Wenlong looked up and saw that the person had a delicate face and a soft voice; it was actually a woman!
Who are you?

"My subordinate, Su Qing, originally belonged to the scout battalion. He is fluent in Mongolian and Jurchen languages ​​and has ventured deep into the northern desert three times to gather intelligence."

Wang Wenlong raised an eyebrow: "Women serving in the army is quite rare."

Su Qing replied neither servilely nor arrogantly: "I have traveled north with my father as a merchant since childhood and am familiar with the customs of the various tribes on the grasslands. I am willing to serve as the vanguard for this mission."

Wang Wenlong stared into her eyes, and after a moment, suddenly smiled: "Good! Commendable courage, granted!"

Su Qing clasped his hands in a fist salute and stepped back, a subtle, unreadable meaning flashing in his eyes.

That afternoon, in a secluded courtyard in Nanjing.

Jiang Huan stood with his hands behind his back, facing three elite members of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

"Wang Baobao has assembled a special operations team, which will head north in three days," Jiang Huan said coldly. "The three of you will infiltrate them and keep a close eye on him."

One of the Imperial Guards hesitated, saying, "Sir, Wang Baobao is highly skilled in martial arts. If he notices us..."

Jiang Huan sneered: "So you must be careful. Remember, if he makes any unusual moves, send a signal immediately."

"Yes!"

After the three men left, Jiang Huan walked to the window, gazing towards the distant palace, and muttered to himself, "Wang Baobao, have you truly surrendered, or do you have ulterior motives?"

The dawn along the Fujian coast was bathed in a steely gray light. Tang He, the Duke of Xin, stood on the deck of his flagship, the Zhenhai, the sea breeze ruffling his white beard. The sixty-three-year-old general squinted, gazing at the faint outlines of ships on the distant horizon.

"My lord, the lookout reports five sailing ships spotted to the northeast, flying Goryeo flags." Vice Admiral Zhou Shichang strode over, lowering his voice. "But the ships are oddly shaped, unlike Goryeo designs."

Tang tapped his calloused fingers lightly on the hull: "Order all ships to extinguish their torches and lower their sails to half-mast."

With a series of flag signals, the entire patrol fleet immediately disappeared into the lingering morning mist. Tang He took the telescope handed to him by his personal guard, and the details of the ships were clearly reflected in the telescope tube—the bows were sharp as knives, the hulls were long and narrow, typical of the fast ships of the Japanese pirates.

"Interesting," Tang sneered. "A wolf in sheep's clothing."

Zhou Shichang leaned closer and said, "I just heard some shouts coming from the wind; it was definitely in Japanese. They're measuring the water depth, and it seems they're drawing a nautical chart."

The old general's pupils suddenly contracted. The drawing of the nautical chart meant that this was not an ordinary plunder, but a planned military operation. He recalled the secret edict he had received half a month ago, in which His Majesty specifically reminded him to pay attention to any unusual activity in the southeast.

"Send 'Sea Hawk' to follow them," Tang He suddenly ordered.

Zhou Shichang was taken aback: "That's our best reconnaissance ship, what if..."

“That’s why.” Tang He turned around, his armor clanking dully. “Let Chen Wu lead the team himself. I need to know every route and every stop these fake Koreans take.”

As the reconnaissance ship quietly departed, Tang He returned to his cabin and spread out a nautical chart. His withered fingers circled several important ports, including Quanzhou and Fuzhou. These Japanese pirates chose to appear during the monsoon season and disguised themselves as Goryeo merchant ships; their intentions must be considerable.

"Report—" a soldier's urgent voice rang out from outside the door, "The lookout has spotted three more ships approaching from the southwest, and judging by their draft, they seem to be fully loaded!"

Tang He suddenly stood up, his armor clanking. He quickly returned to the deck, and sure enough, three deep-draft cargo ships appeared in the telescope, joining the previously spotted convoy.

"Order all ships to prepare for battle," Tang He's voice was as cold as ice, "but do not raise the battle flag."

(End of this chapter)