King Luhuang of the Ming Dynasty: My father, Ming Taizu

Zhang Meng nodded, not quite understanding, scratching his head and smiling:

"Your Highness is right. You are very thoughtful."

Zhu Tan smiled, said nothing more, and walked forward.

Zhang Meng hurriedly followed, but he was still thinking about what Zhu Tan had just said.

He had followed Zhu Tan for many years and knew the temperament of the young prince well.

Although Zhu Tan treats people kindly on weekdays, once his bottom line is touched, he will use thundering means without mercy.

If it had happened to someone else today, he would have been killed by Zhu Tan long ago.

But he just turned a blind eye to these students. What's the meaning behind this?
Zhang Meng couldn't figure it out and didn't dare to ask more questions. He could only hide his doubts in his heart and follow Zhu Tan silently.

……

The salty and humid sea breeze, mixed with the cries of seabirds, blows in your face.

Navy captain Wang Dahu stood at the bow and looked into the distance.

All I saw was a vast expanse of land vaguely emerging at the junction of the sea and the sky.

"finally reached!"

Wang Dahu breathed a sigh of relief. The past half month of drifting on the sea was really exhausting both physically and mentally.

"Pass the order down, prepare to dock!"

Following Wang Dahu's order, the originally calm sea surface suddenly became busy.

The sails were slowly lowered, the anchor was thrown into the sea, and the huge treasure ship slowly sailed towards the strange land.

This land is the "America" ​​that Zhu Tan always misses.

After the ship docked, the soldiers began to set up tents and store supplies.

Wang Dahu summoned several captains who were accompanying them and gave them careful instructions.

"Your Highness came here this time to look for some rare crops that are said to be good for your stomach and have a high yield."

"He ordered us to find the seeds and bring them back to Ming."

Wang Dahu pointed to a few simple drawings on the table, which outlined the shapes of corn, eggplants, and other things. "Everyone, take a good rest these few days, and then go your separate ways. Remember, don't disturb the local people. If you find anything, report it immediately."

Chen. He knew that this journey was destined to be full of unknowns and challenges.

A few days later, a team discovered a village while exploring westward.

"Captain, look, those people don't look like us!"

A young soldier pointed into the distance and said.

The captain looked carefully and saw several blond and blue-eyed people wearing animal skins working in the fields.

The color of their hair is like the golden waves of wheat, and the color of their eyes is like the blue sky, which is completely different from the people of the Ming Dynasty.

"Is this the 'foreign' people that Your Highness mentioned?" another soldier asked curiously.

"Don't talk nonsense!" the captain shouted in a low voice, "Remember what Lord Zheng said, don't disturb the people!"

The team members carefully hid in the woods, observing the situation in the village in the distance.

I saw those "foreign" people were planting a strange plant in the fields.

This plant grows very tall, with thick stems and large fruits on the top.

"What is that? It looks so weird!"

"Could this be the corn your highness is looking for?"

The soldiers whispered to each other, their eyes full of curiosity.

"Don't talk nonsense, let's observe it again."

The captain whispered.

They observed from a distance for a long time, recorded in detail the types of crops grown and farming methods used by the indigenous people, and drew pictures.

"Captain, can we try to get closer to them?"

A soldier suggested, "Your Highness asked us to find the seeds. If we just watch from a distance, it will be difficult to complete the task."

The captain pondered for a moment and felt that what the soldier said made sense.

So he ordered the soldiers to take some small items with them, such as copper coins, silk, knives and the like, and prepare to try to contact the indigenous people through barter.

They approached the village cautiously, trying to avoid making any noise.

When they arrived at the edge of the field, the captain gestured to show that he and his men had no ill intentions.

When the natives saw these strangers, they were also surprised and wary at first.

But when they saw the glittering copper coins and colorful silks, greed appeared in their eyes.

When the captain saw this, he was delighted and knew there was hope.

He took out the small objects he had prepared in advance and gestured, hoping to exchange them for some seeds.

Although the indigenous residents could not understand what the captain said, they could guess what he meant from his actions and expressions.

They pointed at the corn in the field and then at the things in the captain's hand, indicating that they wanted to use these things to exchange.

The captain naturally agreed and handed over the thing in his hand.

After receiving the gifts, the natives danced with joy, then broke off a few corns from the fields and handed them to the captain.

The captain took the corn and looked at it carefully.

This corn was bigger than any other fruit he had ever seen, with full grains and a faint fragrance.

He thought to himself that this must be what His Highness was looking for.

To express his gratitude, the captain took out some small items and distributed them to other indigenous residents.

After receiving the gifts, these indigenous people were very happy. They surrounded the captain and others, singing and dancing.

The team members returned with a full load and talked excitedly about their harvest along the way.

"Captain, do you think His Highness will reward us handsomely when he sees these corns?"

The young soldier wiped the sweat from his forehead and looked forward to the better days in the future.

"Rewards are certain, it all depends on your highness's mood. Who knows, we might even be able to get a position!"

Another soldier interjected, his tone full of anticipation.

The captain listened, smiled and shook his head:

"What are you thinking about? We are soldiers, and our duty is to defend our country. Forget about getting promoted or getting rich!"

"Captain, we have accomplished a great feat this time! Just think about it, if we planted corn all over the Ming Dynasty, how many people would be fed? This feat is no less than killing enemies in a war!"

"Alright, alright, stop talking and hurry up!"

The captain interrupted their discussion and said, "Don't forget what Lord Zheng said. Don't disturb the people. The purpose of our trip is just to find seeds. Don't worry about other things!"

Although the soldiers did not say it, they all knew in their hearts that the discovery of corn was definitely a great achievement.

While imagining the beautiful scene after returning to the Ming Dynasty, they quickened their pace and walked towards the camp.

However, they did not notice that not far behind them, several pairs of greedy eyes were staring at them closely.

……

Wang Dahu stood in the center of the camp with a frown on his face.

"What did you say? A group of natives are approaching the camp?"

"Yes, sir! There are quite a few of them, and they look like they are up to no good!"

The soldier who came to report knelt on one knee and spoke in a hurried tone.

Wang Dahu's heart sank, and an ominous premonition came to his mind.

He walked quickly to the edge of the camp and looked into the distance.

In the distance, a group of people were running towards the camp. They were holding crude weapons, including spears, bows and arrows, and even stones and sticks. They were shouting as they ran, sounding full of anger and greed. Wang Dahu immediately understood something.

It seemed that the indigenous people were eyeing the things they brought.

"Pass the order down, everyone immediately enter combat status!"

Wang Dahu gave the order decisively.

As the horn sounded, the originally peaceful camp suddenly became tense.

The soldiers picked up their weapons and quickly lined up according to the pre-deployment, ready for battle.

Soon, the natives rushed to the camp.

They roared like wild beasts, brandished their weapons, and madly attacked the camp's fortifications.

Arrows fell like raindrops and screams rang out one after another.

Wang Dahu stood on a high place, watching coldly everything that was happening before his eyes.

Any mercy and compromise are meaningless to these greedy and barbaric natives.

"Kill!" Wang Dahu drew the sword from his waist, pointed it forward, and a cold light flashed in his eyes.

The battle instantly became intense.

With his order, the morale of the Ming army was immediately boosted.

The archers drew their bows and shot sharp arrows like raindrops at the crazy natives.

The musketeers pulled the trigger without hesitation. The deafening gunshots resounded through the sky. Amidst the flickering flames, the indigenous people screamed and fell in a pool of blood.

"Gods! Their weapons, their armor! We can't defeat them!"

An indigenous soldier shouted desperately, "Run! They are not human beings at all, they are devils!"

More and more native soldiers began to flee, and fear spread among them.

The blood dyed the ground red and the air was filled with a strong smell of blood.

Wang Dahu looked at the hellish scene in front of him without any mercy in his heart.

In order to fulfill His Highness's instructions and to protect the safety of the sailing team, he must do whatever it takes.

"Sir, those natives seem to be retreating!"

A soldier pointed into the distance and said.

Wang Dahu looked closely and saw that the indigenous residents had begun to show signs of defeat under the fierce attack of the Ming army.

They threw away their weapons and armor and fled in all directions.

"Chase! Don't leave any one alive!" Wang Dahu gave the order coldly.

After receiving the order, the soldiers chased after the fleeing indigenous residents like a tiger descending from a mountain.

……

As the sun sets, the blood-red setting sun illuminates the scene around the camp, making it look particularly desolate.

The battle was over, the ground was littered with corpses, and there was not a single Ming soldier.

"Sir, all the indigenous people have been dealt with."

A soldier covered in blood walked up to Wang Dahu, knelt on one knee and reported.

"Pass the order to search all the nearby indigenous tribes!"

Wang Dahu's voice echoed across the battlefield:

"Take all their food, livestock, and everything else that can be taken back to the camp!"

After a while.

The Ming army arrived at the tribe.

The indigenous tribe is not large, with only dozens of simple wooden houses.

According to Wang Dahu's order.

Everyone immediately went to search the contents.

In the afterglow of the setting sun, several shivering figures hid in a hidden cave.

They are the few survivors of the massacre.

"They... they are simply demons!" a young native cried, "Our homeland, our people..."

"Shut up!" an elderly native shouted in a low voice, "Do you want to attract those demons?"

The young man was so scared that he quickly covered his mouth and looked at the cave entrance in horror.

"What should we do now? Our food has been taken away, and our people are also..."

another native asked desperately.

The old native was silent for a moment, with a hint of determination in his eyes:
"Let's go and ask for the protection of the Giant Lizard Tribe! They are the protectors of this land, and only they can fight against these demons from the sea!"

"Monster Lizard Tribe..."

The young native gasped. The monitor lizard tribe was known for its ferocity. They believed in the monitor lizard god, who possessed mysterious and powerful powers, but that also made them violent and difficult to approach.

"We have no other choice." The old native said firmly, "Instead of waiting to die, we should give it a try!"

Wang Dahu returned to the camp and looked at the mountains of spoils with a satisfied smile.

Inside, there grew many kinds of crops that His Highness had once told him about.

"Sir, this is a map collected from the indigenous tribes."

A soldier came over carrying a rough animal hide.

Wang Dahu took the map and looked at it carefully in the light of the fire. The map was marked with various strange symbols to show the distribution of mountains, rivers and tribes.

"Sir, these natives seem to believe in some kind of totem," the soldier said, pointing to a giant lizard symbol on the map. "This tribe seems to be the center of their faith."

Wang Dahu looked at the monitor lizard totem and his heart moved. Could this be the "monster lizard tribe" that the natives mentioned?
"Pass the order down, strengthen the vigilance, and prevent the natives from counterattacking!"

Wang Dahu threw the map on the table, his eyes flashing with a cold light, "Also, send someone to keep a close eye on the movements of this giant lizard tribe, and report immediately if there is any situation!"

"Yes!"

……

The rugged mountain road was winding and there were still mottled bloodstains on the branches beside the road.

The three natives, dressed in rags and staggering, were the survivors who had managed to escape the massacre.

"Cough cough..."

The young native was coughing violently. There was a wound on his leg so deep that the bone was visible. The blood had dyed his trouser leg a shocking dark red.

"Amu, how are you?" asked the older native worriedly. His name was Ashan, and he was the most experienced hunter in the tribe.

"I'm fine, Uncle Ashan." Amu gritted his teeth and endured the pain. "How long can we...how long can we hold on?"

"We're almost there. Once we cross this mountain, we'll reach the territory of the giant lizard tribe." Ashan pointed to a towering mountain in the distance, with a hint of hope in his tone.

The name of the Monitor Lizard Tribe is like a taboo to other indigenous people.

They believe in the giant lizard god, which is said to have the power to destroy the world.

They are violent and difficult to approach, but they are also the most powerful tribe in this land.

"Uncle Ashan, will the people of the Giant Lizard Tribe... help us?"

Another young native, A Tu, asked timidly, his eyes full of fear.

"Yes," Ashan said firmly, "We are brothers with them, they will not sit idly by."

Ashan's words were full of confidence, but he was unsure in his heart.

The monitor lizard tribe has strange tempers, and no one can predict their reactions. (End of this chapter)