The fierce grandson of the Ming Dynasty

Chapter 121 Are the Imperial Uncles Leaving the Capital?

A gentle breeze caressed my face.

After thinking for a moment, Zhu Xiong Ying picked up the wine jar, poured another cup, and said, "It's excellent that Uncle understands these things!"

"As mentioned earlier, the primary objective of our Ming army in this Northern Expedition is to eliminate Nahachu, the biggest holdout in Liaodong."

"In this war, what do you think our Great Ming should do to win?"

His maternal uncle from the Lan family was a skilled warrior.

However, in some long-term strategies, there is a lack of a big-picture perspective!

Since it's such a convenient day to give it to you, I think I should order a little more!

He saw the deep look in the eyes of the eldest grandson of the emperor.

Lan Yu's expression shifted, and he took the wine bowl, pondering before saying, "Your subject is ignorant; please enlighten me, Your Highness!"

Zhu Xiong Ying smiled, stood up, and said, "Since Uncle is interested, then let's share our thoughts!"

"Naha's troops are mostly remnants of the Yuan dynasty, skilled in both horsemanship and archery. Their weakness lies not in troop strength, but in morale and logistics!"

"Firstly, the Jinshan region where Nahachu is located is inherently harsh and cold, with limited grain production. Therefore, for many years, they have continuously plundered the border areas of our Great Ming!"

"Secondly, most of Nahachu's generals were former officials of the remnants of the Yuan dynasty. They had endured hardship in Liaodong for many years and were already restless."

A few words.

Lan Yu's eyes lit up upon hearing this.

He had already heard about the situation in the north.

At present, the words of the eldest grandson of the emperor can clearly reveal the weaknesses of the remnants of the Yuan dynasty.

He quickly replied, "Your Highness's words have hit the nail on the head! I have benefited greatly from them!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Lan Yu drank the wine in one gulp.

Zhu Xiong Ying picked up the wine jar, poured another cup of wine, and handed it to him with both hands, saying, "Uncle, you flatter me!"

"It's getting late. Let's toast this last bowl of wine to Uncle, wishing you a successful journey to Beiping, a smooth training of troops, and peace on the border."

"No matter when or where, please remember that U.A. will always be thinking of you!"

Lan Yu said, "Thank you, Your Highness!"

After they finished drinking, Zhu Xiong Ying escorted them all the way out of the pavilion to the side of the official road, where he watched as Lan's maternal uncle mounted his horse.

The next moment, Lan Yu cupped his hands and said, "Your Highness, please wait. I will take my leave now!"

"Take care on your journey, Uncle!"

A dozen or so breaths later, Lan Yu led his personal guards along the official road, gradually disappearing into the distance.

Seeing the eldest grandson's pensive expression, Sanbao hesitated for a moment before approaching and saying, "Your Highness, the Marquis of Yongchang's entourage has gone far away; we should return to the palace!"

"Um!"

Zhu Xiong Ying stood there, still thinking about the Northern Expedition.

My heart is filled with passion, and I long to go to the front lines!

However, Old Zhu's hurdle is not yet clear!

Kunning Palace.

When Zhu Xiong Ying returned to the palace, it was still early.

Seeing her eldest grandson covered in sweat, she bowed and called out "Grandmother".

Empress Ma felt very sorry for him and quickly pulled him aside, saying, "You've been running around all day, you must be exhausted!"

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He took out a handkerchief and wiped the sweat from his beloved grandson's brow.

Empress Ma turned to the palace maids and said, "Quickly bring the plum juice and the lotus seed paste cake left over from lunch—"

Before long, the eunuch brought over the plum juice, and Zhu Xiong Ying gulped down several large mouthfuls.

After eating a few pieces of lotus seed paste cake, my hunger subsided somewhat.

Then, he raised his eyes and said, "Grandmother still loves her grandson the most!"

Empress Ma laughed and said, "You silly child, you always know how to make me happy! Did your great-uncle have a safe journey? Nothing went wrong, right?"

Zhu Xiong Ying nodded and said, "Reporting to Grandmother, everything is settled!"

"I hosted a farewell banquet for my maternal uncle outside the city, conveying my grandfather's wishes and discussing military matters with him!"

"When my maternal uncle left, he specifically said that he would certainly not fail the trust placed in him by my imperial grandfather and the court!"

Upon hearing this, Empress Ma nodded and sighed, "Your maternal uncle is your maternal grandfather's brother-in-law. He fought alongside your imperial grandfather for decades!"

"Just as I told your grandfather that day, he is a formidable warrior, but he is too fierce and arrogant, intolerant of any wrongdoing, and unwilling to listen to advice! Many times, he does things solely out of brute force!"

"Just like the incident his adopted son caused, your imperial grandfather was so angry he couldn't sleep for several nights. He said the son couldn't distinguish between what's important and what's not!"

"Thank goodness you thought this through so thoroughly, Xiong Ying!"

Clearly, Zhu had also told Empress Ma about what had happened a couple of days ago.

As for his maternal uncle, Lan Yu, his grandmother knew him very well.

Zhu Xiong Ying said, "Grandmother, you flatter me!"

"My uncle was just confused for a moment. I only said a few extra words; it's nothing!"

Empress Ma, with a look of admiration and sharp eyes, shook her head and said, "Don't be! Of all my grandsons, you're the smartest. Gao Chi and the others are still a bit lacking!"

"Speaking of which, we just sent off your great-uncle Lan Yu, and in the next two months, several of your uncles will also be going to their fiefdoms in other regions!"

"For example, in late July, your tenth uncle will go to Yanzhou, Shandong; in early August, your eighth uncle will go to Changsha, Huguang; and your twelfth uncle will go to Jingzhou. Then in early September, your eleventh uncle will go to Chengdu, Sichuan—"

"Those things, one by one, fill my heart with both relief and reluctance!"

They talked about several princes.

Although he was not her biological son, Empress Ma, as his legal mother, showed him love from the bottom of her heart.

She let her eldest grandson sit beside her, and unconsciously gestured, saying with emotion, "Those are your second uncle, third uncle, and fourth uncle—I remember how they were all this big when they were born!"

"Now I've been sent to a fiefdom a thousand miles away to guard a region for the court, but I don't know when I'll be able to return to the capital!"

Seeing the longing in Empress Ma's eyes, Zhu Xiong Ying helped massage her legs and comforted her, saying, "Grandmother, don't be sad!"

"My second, third, and fourth uncles have taken up their fiefdoms to protect the Ming Dynasty. They must always remember you and Grandfather!"

"If you miss them, issue an imperial decree summoning them back to the capital for a short stay. How could you possibly miss them then?"

Empress Ma patted her grandson's hand and said, "Xiong Ying, you always know how to talk, always saying the things I want to hear!"

Zhu Xiong Ying then said, "Grandmother, as my nephew, I would like to see my tenth uncle and the others off when they leave the capital!"

"After all, Uncle Eight and Uncle Ten have always doted on their grandchildren since they were little. We wouldn't feel right not going to see them off!"

"Furthermore, I'd like to take Gao Chi and the others with me—"

Just a few days ago, my younger brother Zhu Chonghu and others were clamoring to leave the palace.

We took advantage of this opportunity to go on an autumn outing together!

Empress Ma paused for a moment, then said, "You child, you think so very carefully!"

"I'll mention it to your grandfather later. He's always doted on you, and he values ​​the bond between uncle and nephew, as well as the familial bond between father and son. There's absolutely no reason for him to object!"

With his grandmother's words, the matter is settled!

Zhu Xiong Ying bowed and said, "Thank you for your kindness to your grandson, Grandmother!"

Empress Ma said, "You child! Why are you thanking your grandmother?"

Then a palace maid brought over a plate of lotus seed paste cake.

After taking it, Empress Ma pushed it towards her with doting eyes, saying with a smile, "Eat as much as you like! If it's not enough, Grandmother will have the Imperial Kitchen make some more!"

"Um!

""