Ming Dynasty: The Crocodile King of Han Prince Zhu Gaoxu's Family

Chapter 20: Continue to prepare for the return of the Crocodile King

Zhu Zhanhe couldn't help but sigh secretly as he watched his father walk away quickly, and Hu, the steward, following closely behind him. Turning back woodenly, he saw his mother, who was about to speak but hesitated.

"Mom, don't worry, everything will be fine. I will definitely be able to persuade Dad to go to the fiefdom, and our family will be safe!" Zhu Zhanhe looked at his mother with a nervous face and couldn't help but comfort her.

"He'er, your father is a stubborn person. You don't have to pay attention to what he says. As long as our family is safe and sound, I don't have any other expectations." Princess Wei looked nervous at this time. She tossed the embroidered handkerchief back and forth with her delicate hands, looking at her son with a face full of expectation, and even her speech was a little incoherent.

"Mom, don't worry. I failed to persuade my dad today, but I will continue to persuade him later. I have something else to say, but my dad will definitely go with us to the fiefdom by then. By then, our family will be safe!" Zhu Zhanhe looked at his panicked mother, and felt helpless towards his father. Fortunately, he still had a backup plan, and he would be able to persuade Prince Han to give up. Although the power of this backup plan was really great, for the safety of his entire family, he could do it at all costs!
"That's good, that's good, my son has really grown up." Princess Wei looked at her son with a determined face, and her heart suddenly felt much better. Her own Prince Han wanted to become the crown prince, and she, the princess, was always trembling with fear as if walking on thin ice. Now, there was finally someone who could understand her painstaking efforts, and this person was his most beloved son.

On the other side, Prince Han, who had already left the palace, turned his head and looked at the steward Hu in front of him.

"Old Hu, I don't want anyone to know about the conversation I had with the prince today. Not a single word can be leaked out! Everything that needs to be dealt with must be dealt with! Do you understand?" After Prince Han Zhu Gaoxu strode out of the palace gate, he looked back at Butler Hu behind him. He concentrated for a moment and said to Butler Hu with a serious face.

"Your Highness, I will do my best to handle today's matter, but there are too many people here today, and I cannot deal with them all, so I'm afraid I can't hide it. If you have important matters in the future, please talk to the prince in the secret room." Butler Hu, who was dressed in gray eunuch clothes, looked calm as he spoke, because he knew clearly that today's matter could not be concealed at all, and I'm afraid someone has already reported it to His Majesty the Emperor!

"Hmm! Eh~?!" Prince Han was also stunned after hearing what Manager Hu said. Then his face was full of dejection. He sighed secretly and stopped dwelling on the matter. He climbed onto the carriage with a determined look on his face and drove away.

On the other side, it was still the place where the conversation had just taken place.

"Someone come here!" In the inner courtyard, Zhu Zhanhe shouted to a place not far away, and immediately a group of eunuchs and maids came in. However, they still kept their heads down and no one dared to look up. Even if someone raised their head, the look they gave Zhu Zhanhe was still full of awe.

"Young Master, what do you want me to do?" one of the eunuchs asked bravely. Zhu Zhanhe felt that the name sounded familiar, and then he turned around and saw that it was Xiao Xizi.

"Xiao Xizi, ask someone to find Aunt Xiu'er and ask her to accompany mother back to the room to rest. You come with me to the study." Zhu Zhanhe glanced at Xiao Xizi, who was kneeling in the front, dressed in eunuch clothes and full of caution. He saw that the look in his eyes when he looked at him was full of admiration and excitement, so he stepped forward without changing his expression and gave the order.

"Don't worry, my lord. I'll arrange for someone to invite Aunt Xiu'er right away." Xiao Xizi readily agreed after hearing Zhu Zhanhe's words. Then, she slowly retreated, cautious and careful, fearing to upset her young master. Zhu Zhanhe watched with interest. After Xiao Xizi retreated to a certain distance, she raised her head with her head held high, walked up to one of the eunuchs with a proud expression, and kicked him.

"Didn't you hear what the young master said? Why don't you go and ask Aunt Xiu'er to come over!" Xiao Xizi's words were full of pride, and the other maids and eunuchs saw Xiao Xizi's arrogance and arrogant attitude, but they didn't feel a bit dissatisfied. Instead, they looked at Xiao Xizi eagerly, full of attentiveness and envy. Especially the little eunuch who was kicked by Xiao Xizi just now, he climbed up from the ground with a happy face.

"Don't worry, Eunuch Xi. I will go and ask Aunt Xiu to come over right away." The little eunuch who was kicked was proudly grateful to little Xizi. He did not feel resentful or sad about being kicked at all. Instead, he was full of excitement.

"Well~, do your best. The prince will give you a chance. If you make a mistake, don't come back." Xiao Xizi acted like a eunuch in charge of the family at this moment, with a face full of arrogance. He had experienced the dominance of his own prince twice. At this moment, he felt that he had found the direction of his life and was thinking of working hard. He didn't care about the eunuch he kicked down casually. He just felt like he was getting scolded by his godfather. However, Xiao Xizi still took a serious look at the guy who was kicked by his protest, then turned around to serve the prince. "Prince, Aunt Xiu will be here soon. What do you think of the next arrangements..." Xiao Xizi put on a different expression when he came to Zhu Zhanhe. Xiao Xizi lowered his head respectfully at this time, listening to the arrangements of his young master. Xiao Xizi knew clearly that his tall godfather followed the Prince of Han and was now the Prince of Han's right-hand man.

Now, he is a close minister of the Crown Prince of Han, and will definitely be the Crown Prince's right-hand man in the future, so he must follow the Crown Prince diligently and become the Crown Prince's right-hand man in the future!

In a moment, Xiu'er came hurriedly with a little eunuch. Seeing this, Xiao Xizi hurriedly went to greet them with a smile on his face.

"Aunt Xiu'er, you are finally here. The prince is anxious to see you, but he has been waiting for a while." Xiao Xizi took two quick steps and came to Aunt Xiu'er, saying with a friendly face.

Xiao Xizi was chosen to serve the Crown Prince, and he was exceptional in every way. From his Crown Prince's tone and words, he sensed his master's trust and reliance on Aunt Xiu'er. Therefore, as a loyal follower of the Crown Prince, he must strictly follow the Crown Prince's preferences. What the Crown Prince likes, he likes! What the Crown Prince dislikes, he dislikes. This is what Xiao Xizi's godfather taught him, and he always keeps it in mind!
"Aunt Xiu'er, please accompany mother back to rest. She is tired today. I have something else to do, so I have to go first." Zhu Zhanhe looked at Aunt Xiu'er who was walking over in a hurry, and looked at Princess Wei who looked tired, and his face was also full of shock and confusion.

"Mother, don't worry. I'm here, and nothing will go wrong in the palace." Zhu Zhanhe looked at his mother, who had gradually calmed down. However, he could still see that her face was full of nervousness. So he quickly signaled with his eyes for Aunt Xiu'er to go and comfort his mother.

Aunt Xiu'er was also a person with good observation. She could tell at a glance that her princess was in a bad mood, so she quickly walked up to Princess Wei, whispered something in her ear, and then supported Princess Wei of Han and walked towards the inner house.

Before leaving, Princess Wei gave her son a strange look, as if she had something to say, but she held it back.

Aunt Xiu'er supported the princess for a few steps and then came back, but turned back again. Princess Wei came to her son and spoke hesitantly.

"He'er, you are already an adult. Let me say one more thing. Confucius said: A gentleman has three taboos. You are at an age when you are impulsive. You must take care of your health." Princess Wei finally persuaded her son, and then left with Aunt Xiu'er without looking back, leaving Zhu Zhanhe with a messy face.

Looking at his mother's receding back, Zhu Zhanhe had already guessed what his mother and Aunt Xiu'er had whispered to each other just now, but he didn't care. Family members know their own affairs, so he was not worried at all.

"Xiao Xizi, let's go to the study." Zhu Zhanhe quickly adjusted his mood and called Xiao Xizi to go to the study.

"My lord, don't worry. I have prepared a map of the area around Liuhe Port where Zheng Dajian enters and exits, as well as information about all the rivers and coasts. I'm just waiting for you to see it." Xiao Xizi looked at Zhu Zhanhe with an attentive look on his face, and his eyes were full of pride.

　From July 1405, 7, to October 11, 1407 (from June 10, the third year of the Yongle reign of the Ming Dynasty, to September 2, the fifth year of the Yongle reign), Zheng He led a fleet of 27800 men from Wuhumen, Gaoguanle County, Fujian Province, on his first voyage to the Western Ocean. The voyage covered Champa (present-day south-central Vietnam), Java (present-day Java Island, Indonesia), Jiugang, Siam (present-day Thailand), Nambori (present-day Sumatra), Sumatra, Malacca (present-day Malacca, Malaysia), Calicut (present-day Kozhikode, India), and Sri Lanka. En route, near Jiugang in southeastern Sumatra, the fleet was attacked by the pirate Chen Zuyi. Forced to retaliate, Zheng He burned ten of Chen Zuyi's ships, captured and killed thousands of pirates, and captured Chen Zuyi alive. He subsequently beheaded Chen Zuyi in front of foreign envoys and established the Xuanweishisi (Military Commission) in Jiugang. According to the History of Ming Dynasty, "Zu Yi was also a Cantonese. Although he paid tribute, he was a pirate on the sea, which made the tribute envoys suffer." Zheng He's move eliminated the unrest factors in Southeast Asia and re-established the Ming Dynasty's dominant position in Southeast Asia.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)