The fierce grandson of the Ming Dynasty

Chapter 156 Li Jinglong: I will not be the God of War of the Ming Dynasty!

Inside the palace, candlelight flickered.

After Lady Lü finished speaking, seeing that the Crown Prince seemed to be pondering, she quickly added, "But speaking of which, it's not easy for the eldest grandson of the Emperor. He's so young, and he's being sent to such a far and harsh place as the northern border!"

"My heart is constantly aching for him—"

Seeing this, Zhu Biao shared the same sentiment and comforted him, saying, "You don't need to worry. With your fourth brother holding the fort in Beiping, and Chang Mao and others following you every step of the way, Xiong Ying's safety is not a concern!"

"Once this Northern Expedition concludes, Xiong Ying will likely return to the capital!"

"Speaking of which, my father also talked to me about something else in private!"

"It's the one I mentioned to you last time, Father Emperor intends to make Xiong Ying the Crown Prince—"

Upon hearing this, Lady Lü forced herself to remain calm, but inwardly she was churning with turmoil.

Thinking back to the day the eldest grandson of the emperor left, he came to the Eastern Palace to see him, full of high spirits.

In her heart, she silently prayed that the eldest grandson of the emperor would have an accident on the way or on the battlefield!

That way, his son Zhu Yunwen would have a chance!

But to everyone's surprise, the eldest grandson of the emperor was not only alive and well, but also made a contribution shortly after arriving in Beiping!

This solidified the emperor's resolve to establish his grandson as the heir apparent!

Once he becomes the grandson of the crown prince, he will be able to inherit the throne after the crown prince!

What hope does she have left? What way can she survive?

At that time, the mother and son may only be able to depend on others and be at their mercy!

Of course, what is most regrettable is that the illness of the eldest grandson of the emperor, Zhu Xiong Ying, did not take his life.

Seeing that the Crown Prince was still beside her, Lady Lü quickly composed herself and said with a smile, "Your Highness, this is wonderful news!"

"The eldest grandson of the Emperor is young and promising, possessing both virtue and talent. Having rendered such merit, his appointment as Crown Prince is the will of the people! This is not only a blessing for our Eastern Palace, but also a blessing for the Ming Dynasty!"

Zhu Biaoyuan also hopes that his beloved son can grow up as soon as possible and shoulder more responsibilities.

Upon hearing this, he nodded: "Xiong Ying is the eldest son and the legitimate son; according to the laws of the Ming Dynasty, this is how it should be!"

"With Father Emperor appointing him as Crown Prince, we can finally breathe a sigh of relief. After a few more years of experience, he'll be able to assist in managing state affairs!"

After expressing what was on his mind.

By candlelight, Zhu Biao turned his head and noticed Lü's unusual behavior. He asked with concern, "My dear consort, what's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"

Lady Lü shook her head and said, "Your Highness is too kind; I'm fine! I'm probably just a little tired from the day, and I feel a bit dizzy now!"

Zhu Biao quickly stopped talking, supporting his arm, and said, "Then don't sit there anymore, go and get some rest!"

"It's getting late, and I have to attend the morning court session tomorrow!"

"And these days, besides the Northern Expedition, the military reports my elder brother sent from the southwest also require the court's coordination in handling—"

Upon hearing this, Lady Lü nodded obediently: "As Your Highness says, I will serve you and help you to rest!"

One hour later.

Zhu Biao was already fast asleep on the bed.

Lady Lü lay beside her, tossing and turning in bed.

The late Crown Princess Chang, who had been gone for so many years, had served the Crown Prince and managed the Eastern Palace with utmost care and diligence. But what did she get in return?

Especially in recent years, I have felt increasingly uneasy.

Unfortunately, Lady Lü had few descendants, and her son Zhu Yunwen lacked the support of figures like Marquis of Yongchang Lan Yu or Duke of Zheng Chang Mao.

But that doesn't mean there's no one available.

Inside the imperial city, an invisible storm was brewing without anyone noticing.

Far away in Beiping.

With Zhu Xiong Ying, the eldest grandson of the emperor, watching over them, the generals united as one and began their advance and encirclement of Jinshan!

On the tenth day of the third month, General Feng Sheng led 80,000 troops out of Songting Pass and directly to Daning City, where he transferred and stored the grain and fodder from the rear.

At the same time, General Guo Ying led 20,000 troops to Kuanhe City, thus guarding the vital passage from Xifengkou to Daning!

General Fu Youde led 20,000 troops to garrison Huizhou City, thereby ensuring the safety of the flank and defending the Yanshan line!

Marquis Lan Yu of Yongchang, together with 20,000 troops, was stationed in Fuyu City to ensure the smooth transport of grain and supplies to the front line!

All four cities have taken measures to strengthen their defenses.

General He Fu was left to guard Tongzhou.

As for Cao Guogong Li Wenzhong, as a surprise force, he commanded elite cavalry. After setting off from Beiping, he did not take the Songtingguan Avenue, but instead exited through Gubeikou, passed through Xingzhou, and arrived in Xuancheng.

After a proper rest at this strategically important military location, we will prepare to detour through the heart of the Mongolian Plateau, then advance eastward along the Huang River, and head straight for Linhuang Prefecture north of Jinshan!

The Huanghe River here belongs to the Liaohe River system. Because its water is yellowish, it was also known as the "Northern Yellow River" by the people of the Ming Dynasty in order to distinguish it from the Yellow River to the south!

Linhuang Prefecture was originally the location of the Liao capital, but it has now been abandoned and is now a stronghold of the remnants of the Yuan dynasty's nomadic tribes!

On this path of advancement, Li Wenzhong and his generals, including Feng Sheng, communicated through letters, repeatedly deliberated, and finally determined their strategy!

Originally located along the Huanghe River, the area was rich in aquatic plants, making it easy to replenish supplies locally and allowing for surprise attacks.

Furthermore, according to the plan, once the Ming army arrives at Linhuang Prefecture, they will annihilate the Yuan cavalry stationed there, occupy this important town in southern Mongolia, and then advance eastward to the north of Jinshan, cutting off Naha's two escape routes to the Songhua River basin and Karakorum!

This would create a situation where the gates were closed to trap the enemy, preventing the Yuan invaders from escaping to the northern deserts and becoming a long-term border threat to the Ming Dynasty!

In fact, while generals like Li Wenzhong, Feng Sheng, and Lan Yu were busy...

Zhu Xiong Ying was also busy, spending most of his time with his fourth uncle, Zhu Di, learning military strategy and practical skills.

That day, as soon as he stepped out of his tent, he heard a loud shout.

Upon closer inspection, it turned out to be Er Ya Tou Li Jing Long demonstrating the movements to a group of new recruits. His actions were clean and efficient!

"My men, steady your wrists, engage your core, and thrust your weapons forward—not with your arms, but with the strength of your whole body!"

"Yes, that's it. The thrust must be quick, and the pullback must be quick too—"

Seeing that Xiao Li's forehead was covered in sweat and his skin was tanned dark, but he didn't care at all and continued to instruct them one by one until his voice was hoarse.

He was completely different from the spoiled and dissolute man he was a few years ago!

Zhu Xiong Ying was filled with emotion.

From now on, I must never call my cousin Li Jinglong "Second Girl" again!

After the training session.

Li Jinglong noticed that the eldest grandson of the emperor was standing not far away, with Zheng Guogong Chang Mao and others watching the commotion.

He rushed over, greeted the Emperor's eldest grandson, and said, "This humble general greets the Emperor's eldest grandson!"

Zhu Xiong Ying helped Xiao Li up with one hand and patted the muscles on his arm with the other, saying with a smile, "Cousin, please get up!"

"We watched for a while, and my cousin's training is getting more and more organized! These new recruits have only been training for less than ten days, and they're already in such good shape—it's truly remarkable!"

Li Jinglong cupped his hands and said, "You flatter me, Your Highness!"

My father often said that training soldiers is like sharpening a knife; the finer the sharpening, the sharper the knife!

"In the past, I was ignorant and did not know this principle! I only thought that the methods of training soldiers, as recorded in military books, were nothing more than this!"

"But in practice, it requires even more patience and perseverance!!"