Zhu Yuanzhang: My second son is invincible!

Zhu Yuanzhang narrowed his eyes and said, "So, what does Mr. Liu mean...?"

"Let's fight now. Moreover, I suggest that we not only fight, but also divide our forces, with one force landing in Kyushu and the other heading straight for Kyoto, so that Japan cannot defend itself from both ends."

Liu Bowen spoke very concisely.

Zhu Biao's eyes lit up; this coincided with his own thoughts.

Before Li Shanchang could say anything more, Zhu Yuanzhang had already made the decision.

"Alright! Let's do as Mr. Liu says! Xu Da will be the commander-in-chief, and Li Wenzhong will be the deputy. We'll divide the troops into two routes: one to take Kyushu, and the other to attack the capital! Second brother..."

He looked at Zhu Biao: "As for your second brother, let him handle it himself. Let him attack wherever he wants; it's all just a matter of one axe blow!"

The court fell silent for a moment, then all the officials spoke in unison:

"Your Majesty is wise!"

……

After the court session, Zhu Biao returned to the Eastern Palace and immediately summoned officials from the Ministry of War, the Ministry of Revenue, and the Ministry of Works to make arrangements for the early departure for the expedition.

The expedition was originally scheduled to begin on February 15th, but it has now been moved up to February 12th, which is three days later.

Time was of the essence, and all departments were in a frenzy of activity.

Zhu Biao, however, proceeded methodically, issuing orders one after another: provisions were loaded onto ships ahead of schedule, soldiers' leave was canceled, and artillery was inspected and maintained…

Busy until noon, Chang brought Zhu Xiong Ying to deliver lunch.

Five-year-old Zhu Xiong Ying already knew how to bow, and said with a proper bow, "Father, you have worked hard."

Zhu Biao smiled and picked up his son: "Did Ying'er go to school today?"

"I've read it, and the teacher taught me the Thousand Character Classic. I can recite it all!" Zhu Xiong Ying said proudly.

"Great! I'll be very busy these next few days, probably staying in the study. Take good care of yourself." Zhu Biao kissed his son's cheek and turned to say to Madam Chang.

Madam Chang nodded and said, "Your Highness, please rest assured. But what about my second brother... should we send him back ahead of schedule?"

Zhu Biao thought for a moment and said, "No need, just let him wait in Dengzhou. When we set off, we can go directly from there."

Just then, a report came from outside: "His Highness the King of Wu has arrived!"

Zhu Biao was taken aback. Why was the second brother back?

As soon as he finished speaking, Zhu Li led Guanyin Nu in.

The two looked travel-worn, clearly having just returned.

"Big brother!" Zhu Li grinned.

"What are you doing..." Zhu Biao put his son down.

"Uncle Xu said the expedition has been moved up, and he asked me to come back and tell my parents. Also... I need to get my older brother to try some seafood buns from Dengzhou; they're incredibly fresh!"

Zhu Li took out an oil paper package from his pocket and said.

Zhu Biao was both amused and exasperated. He took the steamed bun, which was still warm.

Guanyin Nu bowed and said, "Brother, we've heard there's been internal strife in Japan. Is that true?"

"Really." Zhu Biao asked the two to sit down and briefly explained the decision made by the court.

After listening, Zhu Hui scratched his head and said, "So... we can fight earlier?"

"It's an expedition," Zhu Biao corrected.

"It's all the same. So, should I go with Uncle Xu or go by myself?" Zhu Hui asked again, seemingly unconcerned.

Zhu Biao looked at him and said, "How do you plan to fight?"

Zhu Hui thought for a moment and said, "Uncle Xu said we'll split into two groups, so I'll go to the group with more people to avoid trouble."

Zhu Biao chuckled. This second brother of his was always so direct.

"Very well, you will follow Xu Da's central army and head straight for the capital. Lan Yu will lead the western route to take Kyushu." Zhu Biao said, then looked at Guanyin Nu, "Sister-in-law, this time..."

"I'll go with my husband," Guanyinnu said quickly, her eyes resolute.

Zhu Biao looked at her and suddenly smiled: "Okay, but remember the three rules."

"Um!"

Zhu Li, munching on the pastries brought by Madam Chang, mumbled, "Don't worry, elder brother, I'll protect my wife."

Zhu Biao patted him on the shoulder: "Second brother, this time fighting Japan is different from fighting Korea. Japan is an island nation with many mountains and forests, and... some strange things."

Even though you are invincible, you still need to be careful.

"Something strange?" Zhu Li asked, puzzled.

"It's about Onmyoji, Shikigami, and some local spirits. Master Zhang said that Japan's cultivation system is different from that of the Central Plains, focusing on incantations and demon control, making it difficult to defend against."

Zhu Biao explained.

Zhu Hui said "Oh," patted his left arm, and said, "It's alright, I have an axe."

Zhu Biao shook his head helplessly, knowing that there was no point in saying anything more.

In this second brother's worldview, there is no such thing as "unpredictable"; the only standard is "whether it can be split open or not."

"By the way, do your parents know you're back?" Zhu Biao asked.

"I haven't gone yet, I came to see my older brother first," Zhu Li said.

"Then hurry up and go to Kunning Palace. Mother has been thinking about you these past few days," Zhu Biao urged.

Zhu Hui pulled Guanyin Nu to her feet, walked to the door, then turned back and said, "Brother, eat the seafood buns while they're hot, they'll get fishy when they're cold."

"Understood." Zhu Biao smiled and waved.

After the two left, Zhu Biao opened the oil paper package, inside were six plump, white buns, steaming hot.

He picked one up and took a bite. It was indeed seafood filling, with shrimp, fish, and seaweed—it was so fresh it made his eyebrows fall off.

Madam Chang said softly, "Although my second brother is simple-minded, he always thinks of you, his eldest brother."

"Mmm." Zhu Biao ate his steamed bun slowly, his eyes warm.

This younger brother is the person he wants to protect most in his life.

Therefore, Japan must be conquered, the silver mines must be emptied, and all potential threats must be eliminated.

For the sake of the Ming Dynasty, and so that my second brother can always live such a simple, carefree life.

After finishing a steamed bun, he wiped his hands and said to Madam Chang, "I have to meet a few people tonight, so I might be back late."

"Whom are you going to see?"

"A few... damned people." Zhu Biao's tone was calm, but a cold glint flashed in his eyes.

Chang felt a chill run down her spine and stopped asking questions.

She knew that her husband was going to do those "black-hearted glutinous rice balls" things again.

……

Night falls in a secluded residence somewhere in Yingtian Prefecture.

Jiang Huan stood in the courtyard, with three people kneeling behind him.

One was a secretary in the Ministry of Rites, another was a director in the Ministry of State Affairs, and the third was... a distant cousin of the Lü family, who was a clerk in the Ministry of Revenue.

Zhu Biao walked into the courtyard, and the three of them trembled with fear.

"Your Highness...Your Highness, spare my life!" The official from the Ministry of Rites kowtowed repeatedly.

Zhu Biao walked up to them and looked down at them.

"You leaked the news of the internal strife in Japan to those merchants in Jiangnan, didn't you?" Zhu Biao's voice was soft, but as cold as ice.

The three men looked ashen-faced.

"Your Majesty... Your Majesty was just... just speaking off the cuff..." the Director of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices said in a trembling voice.

"Just a casual remark?" Zhu Biao laughed. "Then the maritime merchants sold the information to Japanese spies in Ningbo. The spies used carrier pigeons to send the message back to Japan. Ashikaga Yoshimitsu was prepared in advance, and Jiang Huan was almost exposed in Kyoto. This is the consequence of your casual remark."

He crouched down, looked at the relative of the Lü family, and said, "The Lü family is extinct. You, the one who escaped the net, could have lived an honest life. Why did you have to court death?"

Zhu Biao hadn't expected that there were so many of his remaining followers, and that they were so good at hiding; for every one who died, another would always come out.

The man collapsed to the ground, his crotch soaked.

Zhu Biao stood up and said to Jiang Huan, "According to the Great Ming Code, what crime is treason?"

"Execute his entire family, including nine generations of his relatives," Jiang Huan said in a deep voice.

The three screamed in agony.

Zhu Biao waved his hand and said, "The entire Lü clan is wiped out. As for the three of them, let them be executed by slow slicing! As for the others who have families, let their families be exiled to Qiongzhou and never allowed to return to the Central Plains."

Jiang Huan was taken aback; this was unlike the Crown Prince's style.

Zhu Biao noticed his confusion and said calmly, "The second brother is going to war. Killing too many people is bad luck."

After saying that, he turned and left.

As he reached the door, he stopped, turned back, and added, "Before their exile, have their sons castrated and sent to the palace to become eunuchs, and their daughters sent to the Imperial Music Bureau."

Jiang Huan's heart skipped a beat, and he bowed, saying, "Yes."

This is the true Crown Prince.

On the surface, they are kind, but in reality... they eliminate all potential threats and leave no room for future trouble.

Zhu Biao stepped out of the courtyard, the night wind blowing on his face, feeling a little cool.

He looked up at the sky, where a waning moon hung.

"Second brother, your elder brother has cleared the rear, so you can go and fight with peace of mind."

He muttered to himself, then got into the carriage.

The carriage headed towards the palace, towards the home he needed to protect, and towards the world he needed to pave the way for.