The fierce grandson of the Ming Dynasty

Chapter 181 Zhu Di: We're all thanks to my nephew!

At dusk, at the Prince of Yan's residence.

Zhu Di did not stay at the camp outside the city today, but instead returned to his residence to take care of various household matters.

On this side, just as they stepped into the hall, Princess Xu, who had been informed, came quickly to greet them, dressed in a moon-white Confucian dress.

Seeing her husband's exhausted state, Madam Xu felt sorry for him and helped him take off his cloak, saying, "Your Highness has been busy all day; you must be exhausted."

"Please sit down and rest. I'll go and warm you a cup of jujube tea."

Zhu Di smiled, put his arm around his wife, and they sat down together on the couch. Stroking his beard, he said, "But since the Battle of Jinshan ended, the burden on our shoulders has lightened a bit!"

"You're the one who's always busy with housework, working so hard!"

"Besides today, Father Emperor sent an imperial decree from the capital, praising us highly! As long as our past actions have earned Father Emperor's approval, we are content."

What is said here fully demonstrates Zhu Di's inherent competitive spirit!

In terms of fame and status, he could never compare to his elder brother Zhu Biao.

But he was better than his brothers, just as he always thought, to be the most capable prince and to be remembered in history!

Seeing his wife's curious expression, Zhu Di laughed loudly and recounted all the rewards from the palace.

Finally, he squinted and added, "There will be another war to conquer the northern deserts next year! Besides managing the military farms in Beiping, Father Emperor also wants us to assist in this matter!"

Upon hearing this, Madam Xu exclaimed with gratitude, "Congratulations, Your Highness! You are truly accomplished in both literature and martial arts, and your actions in Beiping have been witnessed by the court and the public alike!"

"This imperial commendation is an immense honor! In my opinion, Your Highness truly deserves it!"

He was met with his wife's adoring gaze.

While Zhu Di was pleased, he shook his head and said with a smile, "To be honest, my dear consort, we're only doing this thanks to my nephew!"

"The greatest credit for this Liaodong campaign should have gone to my nephew! If it weren't for his strategic planning behind the scenes, his plan to launch a surprise attack on Qingzhou and disrupt the enemy's morale, and his plan to advance on the Jurchen stronghold and cut off their retreat—"

"How could our Ming army pacify Liaodong so easily?"

"As for us, we're just managing supplies and repairing city walls in the rear. That's nothing special!"

When this was mentioned, Zhu Di sighed with regret.

In recent years, whether he is far away in the capital or close to the front line in Beiping, my nephew often brings surprises.

At first, he was somewhat surprised.

In this moment, amidst our habits, I can't help but feel a sense of admiration!

Looking across the world, apart from his father and mother whom he deeply respected, only his elder brother Zhu Biao and his nephew were people he truly respected from the bottom of his heart!

Therefore, just like what Chang Mao mentioned earlier, once his eldest nephew grows up and strategizes in the army, he, as the fourth uncle, can confidently lead troops to conquer and win battles from afar!

With uncle and nephew working together, what worries do we have about the unrest among the barbarians?

With his father and elder brother in the court, he had no more worries.

As Zhu Di was lost in thought...

Seeing her husband's high regard for her, Madam Xu smiled and said, "Your Highness, there's no need to belittle yourself!"

"As for the eldest grandson of the emperor, he is already an outstanding person. What surprises me is that at such a young age, he is not only good at domestic affairs, but also skilled in military matters."

"But if Gao Xu and the others can live up to even one or two tenths of the eldest grandson's potential in the future, then I can rest assured!"

Leaving aside his eldest son, Zhu Gaochi, he was the most worry-free.

The second son, Zhu Gaoxu, was quite mischievous.

Even a virtuous woman like Princess Xu of Yan couldn't help but have headaches.

Zhu Di knew what his wife was worried about.

His smile remained undiminished as he retorted, "My beloved consort just spoke of my nephew's talent in governance and military affairs, but little do you know, his skills in employing and dealing with people are also in keeping with the demeanor of an elder brother—"

"Leaving aside the day he welcomed the surrendered general Nahachu, his magnanimity and methods were truly remarkable! Even his usual way of comforting the generals was incredibly well-organized, earning the complete respect of veteran generals like Cousin Li and Uncle Feng!"

"And the Emperor's dispatch of his eldest nephew to stay in the army this time is also intended to cultivate him—"

This is the topic.

Zhu Di was deeply moved.

When my nephew was a child, he was a well-behaved and obedient boy.

Moreover, he was raised by his father and mother from a young age, and he is kind, responsible, and law-abiding.

How could he not see that after his elder brother Zhu Biao, his father intended to groom his nephew as his successor?

If he, the fourth uncle, is still alive when his eldest nephew ascends the throne, he will definitely do everything in his power to support him!

Madam Xu took the tea offered by the maid, placed it in her husband's hand, and nodded, saying, "Your Highness is right!"

"The eldest grandson of the emperor is, after all, the eldest son of the Crown Prince, and also the elder brother of Chi'er and the others; he represents the country and its people!"

"His generosity and talent are truly a blessing to the Ming Dynasty!"

But as her husband drank tea and chimed in, she seemed slightly lost in thought.

Knowing the reason, Madam Xu leaned to the side and said, "Speaking of which, we're going to launch a northern expedition to the Mongolian steppe next year!"

"Does Your Highness also yearn to go to the battlefield and charge into battle?"

As her husband's bedmate for so many years, how could she not know his lofty ambitions?

Zhu Di put down his teacup, his eyes lit up, and he sat up straight, turning to his wife with a serious expression, saying, "My dear consort, what you say is true!"

"How could we not want to? We grew up in the army with our father and father-in-law since we were little, and our favorite thing is riding horses and fighting!"

"Seeing all those generals charging into battle on the front lines makes us so envious!"

After a pause, the Prince of Yan of the Ming Dynasty glanced at the darkening night and sighed, "Just as I told my nephew a month ago, my greatest dream is to be like my elder brother and cousin of the Mu family, guarding the borders and sweeping away all invading enemies!"

When the topic turned to his sworn brother Mu Ying, Zhu Di's admiration for him flowed like a mighty river, and he became quite talkative.

He exclaimed, "My beloved concubine, you have no idea how much my elder brother, the Mu family brother, has accomplished in the Southwest these past two years! He has utterly routed those rebellious barbarians!"

"Just last month, we received a letter from the capital stating that the battle of Luchuan, which began last year, has ended, and the entire southwest is now at peace!"

"Furthermore, it's said that the reason the Mu family elder brother was able to quell the rebellion in Luchuan was thanks to our eldest nephew, who proposed a strategy of divide and rule, combining suppression and appeasement!"

"Currently, he is expanding water conservancy projects, building garrisons, and vigorously developing agricultural settlements to stabilize the governance of the southwest!"

"In the future, we must be like him, guarding the northern gate of the Ming Dynasty to the death—"

"But then again, if we could lead the troops in next year's Battle of Mobei, hey! How wonderful that would be!"

Madam Xu held her husband's hand, her phoenix eyes shining in the candlelight, and comforted him, "Your Highness, please don't worry!"

"There was a reason why the Prince was stationed in Beiping, overseeing logistics and agricultural settlements!"

"After all, the Northern Expedition is a matter of great national importance, and the stability of supplies and the rear areas are the foundation for the conquest!"

"This shows how much the palace trusts the prince—"

Zhu Di nodded and said, "I understand what my beloved consort has to say!"

"Beiping is our territory, and it is our duty to defend it. Father Emperor has high hopes for us."