The fierce grandson of the Ming Dynasty

Chapter 142 Zhu Di: I miss my nephew!

Outside the city gate, the wind howled.

Li Jinglong wore a crimson cloak, his body standing tall and straight like a pine tree.

Upon seeing the Crown Prince approach, he immediately bowed in greeting.

Seeing this, Zhu Biao stopped and looked at his eldest cousin, the eldest son.

Looking at all the changes that had taken place in the past year and a half, he sighed with emotion, his expression softening as he said gently, "Jiujiang!"

You've studied military strategy and practiced horsemanship and archery since childhood; your abilities are quite remarkable!

"Since last summer, you have undergone much rigorous training in the military! Now you are heading to the battlefield, I hope you take good care of yourself!"

Li Jinglong's heart skipped a beat, and he quickly replied, "Your Majesty, I understand. I will certainly not fail Your Highness's expectations!"

Walk to the side of the soup pot.

He appeared composed, stood with his hands at his sides, and was very respectful.

Zhu Biao smiled and said, "Last winter, Uncle Tang was ordered by the Emperor to guard Zhejiang and defend against Japanese pirates. He has made great contributions!"

""

"As for this Northern Expedition, my brother has followed Xiong Ying northward, and we have both endured hardships. I hope you will be more understanding!"

Tang Ding stepped forward, his gaze firm, and said, "Your Highness, what are you saying? It is our honor to be able to share the burdens of the country!"

After the accompanying meritorious generals finished giving their instructions,

Zhu Biao turned to his eldest son and gave him some special instructions.

Most of it is the same old stuff.

Upon hearing this, Zhu Xiong Ying hurriedly replied, "Father, don't worry, I understand! Please take good care of yourself in the capital, and don't stay up late!"

Zhu Biao nodded upon seeing this.

Before he could say anything more, a palace attendant hurriedly reminded him, "Your Highness, the auspicious hour has arrived!"

Upon hearing this, Zhu Xiong Ying immediately bowed deeply in farewell.

After a moment, he got up, looked at his uncle Chang Mao and the others, and then mounted his horse.

His horse, named Ta Xue, was a gift from his fourth uncle, Zhu Di, last year.

After waving to Biao'er's father and the others, he saw that the others were already on horseback.

Zhu Xiong Ying straightened his back, brimming with pride, and shouted loudly, "Let's go!"

With the sound of horses' hooves, Li Jinglong and the others followed closely behind.

The crowd here was like a black torrent, moving further and further away from the city gate.

Zhu Biao stood there, watching his eldest son leave, his heart filled with mixed emotions.

That same evening.

Zhu Xiong Ying and his party traveled without stopping, arriving directly at Jiangpu Post Station, where they spent the night at the post station.

In the following days, they passed through important towns such as Chuzhou, Chiheyi, and Linhuai Pass.

They did not reach Suzhou until the sixteenth day of the first lunar month.

After passing Xuzhou, they rested for a day and then headed north to Yanzhou, passing through Tai'an and Jinan, before entering the heart of Shandong.

On the second day of the second lunar month, the dragon looked up.

Far away in Beiping.

Although it is already mid-spring, the weather is much colder than in Yingtian Prefecture.

Especially in the evening, the cold wind howls, chilling one to the bone.

Inside the Prince of Yan's residence.

After Zhu Di finished discussing matters with Lan Yu and others, it was already late at night when he returned to his residence.

Inside the hall, upon seeing her husband return, Madam Xu hurriedly stepped forward to help him remove his sword. She then took a hot towel from a maid, used it to warm her hands, and helped him put on his thick clothes. She asked with concern, "Your Highness is finally back. It's so windy outside; why didn't you wear a cloak?"

"And yet, today's meeting has dragged on so late—"

Hearing his wife nagging.

Zhu Di hummed in agreement, but said nothing more.

He then took the ginger soup that was served, drank it all in one gulp, looked up at the dark night, leaned back in his chair, and sighed, "Your Highness doesn't know! Since the beginning of the year, Nahachu has known that our Ming army is going to launch a campaign, so he has sent several waves of scouts to spy on the border, causing quite a stir!"

"And the main force of our Great Ming has arrived at the designated location! It is the troops led by Cousin Li that have also arrived in Beiping today—"

"Therefore, with a major battle imminent, we cannot afford to be careless in any way, inside or out!"

"For the foreseeable future, we'll probably be returning to the military headquarters less often, spending most of our time in the barracks overseeing logistics and supplies!"

Upon hearing this, Madam Xu sat down beside him and said with concern, "I know Your Highness is burdened with military affairs, but you must also take care of your own health!"

"Your cold from the first month of the lunar year hasn't fully healed yet. If you keep enduring this, it might get worse!"

Zhu Di smiled and shook his head, completely unconcerned, saying, "Don't worry, we're fine!"

"But today we received an urgent report from the capital saying that our eldest nephew left Beijing on the third day of the first lunar month and arrived in Suzhou on the sixteenth. Counting the days, he should be able to reach Beiping in about ten days!"

That brings us to this point.

The purpose of the Emperor's arrangement.

Zhu Di was very clear about this.

But soon, his brows furrowed, revealing a hint of worry, and he said, "Speaking of which, the journey north is so long, I can't help but feel uneasy!"

"After all, my nephew isn't much older than Chi'er!"

"Even after the New Year, at only fourteen years old (by the traditional Chinese age reckoning), he's already traveling such a long distance, and during the first month of the lunar calendar!"

In Zhu Di's heart, he always regarded his eldest nephew, who called him Fourth Uncle, as his own son!

As her husband, Madam Xu knew this best.

If his nephew and son fell into the water at the same time, the prince would probably save the nephew first!

She quickly reassured him, "Your Highness, please don't worry too much. Although the eldest grandson is young, he is meticulous and acts with composure, much more mature than his peers!"

"Not to mention, there's also the eldest son of the Chang family, and my elder brother and the others traveling with them to help!"

Zhu Di glanced at his wife and nodded, saying, "You're right! Even though we're not in the capital, we've often heard about what our nephew has accomplished these past few years!"

"And those letters he wrote reveal him to be a man of great ambition and drive!"

"No matter what, my nephew is the eldest son of the Zhu family, and more importantly, he's our own nephew!"

"Once we get to Beiping, it'll be our territory too. Whoever dares to mistreat him, I, as his fourth uncle, will be the first to object!"

Zhu Di's protective manner towards his own son.

Compared to Duke Chang Mao of Zheng, he was no less impressive!

Madam Xu smiled and said, "This concubine knows that Your Highness dotes on the eldest grandson of the Emperor!"

"Before the arrival of the eldest grandson of the emperor, I had already had clothes prepared and servants tidy up the living quarters—"

Zhu Di put his arm around his wife's shoulder and praised, "You've thought of everything; I'm relieved!"

At the same time.

Outside Beiping city, inside a military camp.

Lan Yu and Li Wenzhong are still meeting.

After the two finished discussing military affairs,

It was inevitable that the eldest grandson of the emperor, Zhu Xiong Ying, would be mentioned.

When asked about the safety of the journey, Li Wenzhong took a sip of his hot tea and spoke first: "We received news that the eldest grandson of the emperor has entered Shandong!"

"That's why I've sent two cavalry squads south to provide support!"

Lan Yu glanced at him sideways, then felt relieved and said, "Si Ben has considered everything thoroughly!"

"People like Chang Mao are all loud and unreliable; we can't rest easy about them!"

Seeing Lan Yu's anxiety, Li Wenzhong said, "Marquis Yongchang, please don't be so harsh!"

"Although Brother Chang has a quick temper, he truly dotes on the eldest grandson of the emperor. Needless to say, he will protect him perfectly!"

"This northern expedition is of paramount importance. His Majesty has been planning it for so long; we must not disappoint him. We must handle the war with utmost care to avoid failure at the last hurdle!"

Li Wenzhong's words to Lan Yu were intentional.

He knew it very well.

The biggest variable in this northern expedition was not the battles themselves, but the people involved.