My father is Chongzhen? Then I have no choice but to rebel.

Chapter 261 Even the True Martial Emperor came to save the Ming Dynasty, how could the Ming Dynasty not prosper?

Just then, Zheng Xiaomei said somewhat nervously:

"Your Highness, the reason I did this was only to ensure that my brother would not fail His Majesty's trust after arriving in Korea. Please forgive me!"

Before she finished speaking, she bent down to bow again, her skirt swaying gently in the wind, and the pearl hairpin in her hair trembling slightly.

Zhu Cilang reacted quickly, reaching out to stop her with both hands, his face full of tenderness as he comforted her:

"I thought it was something important, but it turns out it's just this."

"Your brother-in-law is no outsider, so you can say it. I won't blame you."

He paused, then gently brushed a stray strand of hair from Zheng Xiaomei's ear before continuing:

"Also, don't kneel down so easily in the future. We are husband and wife, and we don't need so many rules."

Upon hearing this, Zheng Xiaomei's bright eyes instantly welled up with tears, like dewdrops on flower petals in the morning, sparkling in the sunlight.

She bit her lip and nodded slightly, her heart filled with emotion.

However, Zheng Chenggong, who witnessed all of this from a short distance away, was filled with embarrassment and helplessness.

His hands clenched and unclenched at his sides, his feet shifted unconsciously on the ground, and he didn't know where to look.

After all, it's still a bit awkward to watch your own sister flirt with your brother-in-law, especially since your brother-in-law is the current crown prince.

Just moments before, as he was making his usual rounds in the East Palace, Zheng Xiaomei suddenly called out to him.

Then, with a mysterious look on his face, he said he wanted to tell him something about Zhu Cilang.

Zheng Chenggong's heart tightened, thinking that something important had happened, so he immediately took her to a secluded and deserted place.

But who could have imagined that Zheng Xiaomei's words would be like a bombshell dropped into his ear, instantly shutting down Zheng Chenggong's brain.

Because Zheng Xiaomei actually told him that His Highness the Crown Prince was actually the reincarnation of Zhenwu the Great, and repeatedly instructed him that he must not do anything against His Highness the Crown Prince's orders after arriving in Korea.

To be honest, when Zheng Chenggong heard these words, his mind went blank and he was completely stunned.

He stared wide-eyed at his sister in disbelief, even subconsciously reaching out to touch her forehead, wondering if she was delirious from a fever. Otherwise, how could she possibly say something so outrageous?

In his mind, talk of ghosts and gods was always used to fool ignorant people, and he had seen a bit of the world, so naturally he didn't believe in such absurd claims.

Before he could recover from his shock or even ask for clarification, Zhu Cilang suddenly appeared in front of them, leading to the awkward and bizarre scene before them.

By this time, Zhu Cilang had comforted Zheng Xiaomei, and the two were chatting and laughing, returning to their previous intimate state.

When Zhu Cilang turned his gaze to Zheng Chenggong, he immediately saw through his inner turmoil and confusion.

Zheng Chenggong's stiff expression and evasive eyes revealed his current helplessness.

But thinking about it, it makes sense. If any normal person were suddenly told that the person next to them was a reincarnation of a god, it would be difficult for them to accept the fact in a short period of time.

But Zhu Cilang didn't care, because he knew he was absolutely confident he could convince Zheng Chenggong.

Thinking of this, Zhu Cilang's lips curled up slightly, revealing a meaningful smile, and he looked at Zheng Chenggong and asked:

"What, brother-in-law, don't you believe what your little sister is saying?"

Zheng Chenggong's face flushed red instantly, as if his secret had been exposed in public. He stammered and forced himself to say:
"Your Highness, I don't know what to say."

His voice grew softer and softer until it was almost inaudible.

Zhu Cilang was not angry; he simply said calmly:

"Come with me, and you'll believe it soon enough!"

After saying this, he naturally took Zheng Xiaomei's hand and walked steadily toward the study.

Zheng Chenggong watched their retreating figures, hesitated for a moment, and then quickly followed after them.

Throughout the journey, Zheng Chenggong's eyes remained full of doubt, his brows furrowed tightly.

His mind was in complete chaos, and he couldn't figure out what was going on.

Why would my own sister say something so strange out of the blue?

What puzzled him even more was that the Crown Prince not only did not deny it, but also asked him if he believed it, and even wanted to prove it to him.

But how do you prove something like that?

Zheng Chenggong really couldn't understand it.
But no matter what, he wouldn't believe such nonsense!
Soon, the three of them arrived at the study.

The study was filled with the faint scent of ink, and various books were neatly arranged on the bookshelves. Sunlight streamed through the window, casting dappled shadows on the floor.

Zhu Cilang stood in the center of the study, looking at Zheng Chenggong with a firm gaze, and then solemnly said:
“Brother-in-law, I know what my little sister just said sounds a bit unbelievable, but I want to tell you that it’s true.”

Zhu Cilang didn't give Zheng Chenggong time to think, and continued:
"Of course, I know that words are not enough, and you won't believe me just by saying it, so I will prove it to you. Watch carefully!"

After saying this, Zhu Cilang had a sudden thought and then casually waved his sleeve.

The next second, a shocking scene unfolded: a pile of gleaming white Ming Dynasty silver coins fell from mid-air without warning, crashing to the ground with a crisp sound.

It must be said that the system is quite useful. When Zhu Cilang forged Ming Dynasty silver coins and Ming Dynasty gold coins, these two items appeared in the system space, and the exchange price was only slightly higher than that of ordinary silver.

Zheng Chenggong's slightly embarrassed face was instantly replaced by extreme shock. He stared wide-eyed and mouth agape at the scene before him, frozen in place as if under a spell.

At that moment, he felt his worldview was being completely overturned. He couldn't believe that the Crown Prince in front of him could just wave his hand and a large number of Ming Dynasty silver coins would inexplicably start falling from the void in front of him.

The gleaming silver coins kept falling to the ground, quickly piling up into a silver mountain more than half a meter high.

However, this is not over yet.

The next second, Zhu Cilang waved his hand again, and then, golden Ming Dynasty coins began to fall from the air. The coins fell like raindrops, shimmering brightly in the sunlight, and soon piled up into a gold mountain more than half a meter high.

After doing all this, Zhu Cilang smiled at Zheng Chenggong and said in a relaxed tone:
"Brother-in-law, do you believe me now? If not, I have other ways to make you believe me."

Zheng Chenggong did not respond to him at this moment, because he was completely shocked by the scene before him, and was in a daze with his mind blank.

Seeing this, Zheng Xiaomei quickly went over, gently tugged at Zheng Chenggong's sleeve, and whispered a reminder to him:
"Brother, His Highness the Crown Prince is asking you a question!"

Zheng Chenggong then seemed to wake up from a dream, as if he had suddenly come to his senses. He looked at Zhu Cilang with disbelief, his eyes filled with shock and awe.

To be honest, he was genuinely terrified!

The next second, he knelt down in front of Zhu Cilang with a thud, his voice trembling slightly as he excitedly said:

"Your Highness! I believe you!"

After saying this, Zheng Chenggong immediately kowtowed heavily on the ground, the sound of his forehead hitting the ground being particularly clear in the quiet study.

At that moment, his worldview was completely overturned.

In his view, what else could someone be but a god who could conjure gold and silver out of thin air?
Moreover, he was quite certain that this was not a trick, because a number of gold and silver coins had just rolled down to his feet.

The heavy weight and the delicate texture made him truly feel that this was indeed real gold and silver.

Just then, Zhu Cilang stepped forward and helped Zheng Chenggong up, saying with a gentle smile:
"Brother-in-law, don't blame me for keeping this from you all this time. The reason I didn't tell you before was because this matter was just too unbelievable, and you might not believe it if I told you. Also, I was afraid that if I showed you my magic, I would scare you."

He paused and continued:

"I just didn't expect my little sister to tell you this. But it's good this way. Now that you know my biggest secret, we can finally be truly honest with each other."

"From now on, there are no more secrets between us."

Upon hearing this, Zheng Chenggong felt a surge of inexplicable emotion, and his eyes involuntarily reddened slightly.

At the same time, he was completely impressed by the young master in front of him.

He was the Crown Prince of the Ming Dynasty, the future Emperor of the Ming Dynasty, his brother-in-law, and a reincarnation of a god. These multiple identities combined instantly boosted his loyalty to the highest level.

His mind kept replaying the various changes that had taken place in the Ming Dynasty over the past six months.

From its previous decline, beset by internal and external troubles, to its current gradual prosperity, with people living in peace and contentment and the army growing stronger day by day.

Upon careful consideration, he realized that none of this was accidental; the Ming Dynasty's tremendous transformation was not entirely without reason!
After all, the True Martial Emperor was reincarnated as the Crown Prince of the Ming Dynasty to save the Ming Dynasty, so how could the Ming Dynasty not prosper?

At the same time, he finally understood why the people around Zhu Cilang were so loyal to him.

With the ability to conjure gold and silver with a wave of the hand, who would dare to be disloyal to someone with such miraculous powers? And who wouldn't be devoted to him?

Even as he left the study, Zheng Chenggong's steps were still somewhat unsteady, and he still felt as if he were in a dream.

He kept glancing back at the study, still filled with shock and disbelief, as if he had just experienced a fantastical dream.

This dream completely changed his perception of the world.

Over the next two days, the entire imperial court was like a giant machine running at high speed, with all departments bustling about.

The Ministry of Revenue and the Firearms Research Institute were particularly busy, creating a bustling and vibrant scene.

After all, once this large army goes to North Korea, it certainly won't be able to return for a while.

Moreover, with winter approaching, the situation in North Korea is already unstable and resources are scarce, so there may not be enough food to supply the army.

Therefore, the imperial court needs to prepare at least six months' worth of grain. After a rough estimate, at least 30,000 shi (a unit of dry measure) of grain will be needed.

Officials from the Ministry of Revenue spent their days in the granaries, meticulously counting every bag of grain to ensure the quantity was accurate.

They also need to arrange transportation vehicles and personnel, and plan transportation routes; no mistake can be tolerated in any of these steps.

In addition, the military pay will require approximately 500,000 taels of silver.

However, 500,000 taels of silver is not a problem at all, since the Ming Dynasty is not short of money these days.

Besides provisions and military pay, the imperial court also needed to prepare winter clothing, coal, and other supplies, none of which could be dispensed with. Fortunately, the Ministry of Revenue had plenty of spares in its warehouses, which could be used directly.

Of course, the most important thing is the weaponry and equipment.

It is essential to have a full complement of equipment such as flintlock muskets, cannons, and hot air balloons.

Furthermore, some soldiers familiar with these advanced weapons will be sent to North Korea to oversee the training of the army, ensuring that the North Korean forces can master the use of these weapons.

At the same time, a Jinyiwei (Imperial Guard) from a thousand-household unit also accompanied them; their main task was to deliver intelligence.

After all, this army was deep in enemy territory and in a foreign land, facing many unknown situations. All aspects had to be carefully considered, and there could be no negligence.

In total, it cost more than three million taels of silver to prepare sufficient supplies for this army.

In the past, when the imperial court was in financial straits, it certainly wouldn't have been able to come up with this sum of money.

Even if they could afford it, they certainly wouldn't be willing to waste such a large sum of money on an army that is about to be deployed overseas.

However, thanks to Zhu Cilang's series of reforms and efforts, the court is now completely different from what it used to be.

Therefore, when it came to spending this sum of money on this matter, the Ministry of Revenue was naturally very generous and made all the necessary preparations. They were just waiting for the army to set off for Korea to expand the territory of the Ming Dynasty and make outstanding contributions.

The next night.

The night was as dark as ink, and the palace lanterns lit up one after another, casting a warm yellow glow along the long corridor.

Zhu Cilang stood by the window of the East Palace, gazing at the starry sky, his mind still pondering the many matters to be discussed at the farewell banquet for Zheng Chenggong the next day.

This large-scale crossing of the army into Korea is crucial to the future of the Ming Dynasty and cannot be taken lightly.

Suddenly, at that moment, a series of hurried footsteps came from not far away, followed by the slightly panting voice of the personal eunuch, Ma Bao:
"Your Highness, the Korean envoy has come to see you, saying he has important matters to report!"

"And Yi Ho, the son of the King of Joseon, also came."

This sudden report startled Zhu Cilang. He frowned slightly, his heart filled with doubt.

According to the itinerary, Grand Prince Fenglin and his entourage of Korean envoys were supposed to set off for Korea with the army early the next morning. Why would they request an audience at this time?

After a brief moment of thought, Zhu Cilang still couldn't figure it out, and then gave the order:

"Let them in."

A moment later, a series of chaotic footsteps echoed in the courtyard.

Zhu Cilang looked up and the scene before him almost made him burst out laughing.

Four or five Korean envoys were seen hunched over, struggling to carry a long elm plank covered with a brand-new Shu brocade quilt.

Grand Prince Fenglin, dressed in magnificent Joseon attire, lay sprawled on the ground in a disheveled state, his eyes filled with both trepidation and a barely perceptible hint of anticipation.

The envoys moved with extreme caution, afraid of accidentally hurting the injured man. Their comical appearance resembled that of a group of clumsy penguins.

When they approached, he placed Fenglin Dajun on the ground and then bowed to Zhu Cilang.

Lord Fenglin spoke weakly, his voice so feeble it seemed a gust of wind could dissipate it:

"Your Highness, please forgive me for being injured and unable to perform the ceremony."

He coughed lightly twice as he spoke, trying to make his sickly appearance more convincing.

Zhu Cilang suppressed a laugh, waved his hand, and said in a calm tone:
"It's alright, it's alright. You're injured, so don't be shy."

"Weren't you supposed to be returning to Korea tomorrow? Why are you suddenly coming to see me tonight?"

A hint of embarrassment flashed across Fenglin Dajun's face. After hesitating for a moment, he stammered:
"Your Highness, this is precisely what I wish to report to you. I do not wish to return to Korea for the time being, and I hope that you will grant me permission to remain in the Ming Dynasty."

"To be honest, my injuries are too severe. After such a long and bumpy journey, I am worried that I will not make it to Korea and may die on the way!"

By the end, his voice even trembled with tears, and his eyes were slightly red. An uninformed person would have thought he was terminally ill.

Upon hearing this, Zhu Cilang stared thoughtfully at Grand Prince Fenglin.

Nearly twenty days have passed since he was last flogged. According to a secret report from the Embroidered Uniform Guard, the Grand Prince Fenglin was able to get out of bed and move around normally several days ago, and even played chess with others in the guesthouse.

Now, this pretense is clearly an attempt to remain in the Ming Dynasty.

However, this is actually quite understandable, since Korea is currently embroiled in war, and even with the assistance of the Ming army, the situation remains turbulent.

If Lord Fenglin were to return at this time, he would most likely be drawn into the vortex of war, and his life might even be in danger.

If he stayed in the Ming Dynasty as an envoy of a vassal state, he could continue to enjoy a life of luxury.

In contrast, Prince Bongnim naturally had no desire to return to Joseon.

Seeing Zhu Cilang remain silent, Grand Prince Fenglin assumed that Zhu Cilang did not want to agree and became very anxious, so he quickly added:

"Your Highness, I truly do not wish to die! I beg you to have mercy and grant my request!"

"If you insist on sending me back, I'm afraid I'll really lose my life on the way!"

As he spoke, he struggled to get up, but then pretended to be unable to do so and collapsed back onto the bed, his acting skills were truly clumsy.

Zhu Cilang found it increasingly amusing, but maintained a composed demeanor on the surface.

After a moment's thought, he slowly nodded and said:

"In that case, I agree. You may remain in the Ming Dynasty until the war in Korea ends, and your treatment will not be reduced."

Upon hearing this, a look of surprise flashed in the eyes of the Great King Fenglin, as if a drowning person had grasped at a straw.

He forced himself to sit up, bowed with his hands clasped, and said with a tone full of gratitude:
"Your Highness, I thank you! Your Highness is truly a benevolent ruler!"

At this moment, he seemed to have forgotten the pain of being beaten with a cane not long ago, and his heart was filled with only the joy of staying in the Ming Dynasty.

"Alright, go and rest. We can talk about it after you've recovered!"

Zhu Cilang didn't want to argue with him anymore, so he waved his hand and signaled the Korean envoys to carry Grand Prince Fenglin away.

Watching their departing figures, Zhu Cilang's lips curled into a meaningful smile.

His decision to grant Prince Bongrin's request was not out of pity, but rather stemmed from profound political considerations.

The King of North Korea is now very old, and he may pass away at any time.

With the Crown Prince of Joseon being held hostage in Shengjing and facing the constant threat of death, it is highly likely that Grand Prince Bongnim will become the sole heir to the Joseon royal family.

Even if he wasn't, Zhu Cilang could still find a way to make him the 'sole heir'.

Once Grand Prince Fenglin becomes the sole heir to the Joseon royal family, the Ming Dynasty will have more leverage in dealing with Joseon affairs in the future.

For example, after destroying the Jurchens, Prince Fenglin could "voluntarily" submit a petition requesting the removal of the name of Joseon and its incorporation into the Ming Dynasty's territory, thus giving the Ming Dynasty a legitimate reason to annex Joseon.

Although the matter was fraught with difficulties, Zhu Cilang believed that with his strategies and methods, he would be able to successfully navigate this complex situation.

As for raising another Fenglin Prince now, it only consumes some food, which is insignificant compared to the long-term interests of the Ming Dynasty.

Time flew by amidst their busyness and contemplation, and before they knew it, it was the morning of the next day, the day Zheng Chenggong and his men were to set off.

As soon as the sky began to lighten with the first hint of dawn, Zhu Cilang got up early.

After a quick wash, Zhu Cilang, surrounded by a group of guards, went to the city gate to see Zheng Chenggong and his entourage off.

Outside the city gate, Zhu Cilang took a jar of wine from Ma Bao, walked up to the soldiers, and personally poured wine for each of them.

The wine bowls clinked together, producing a crisp sound and filling the air with the aroma of wine.

The soldiers took the wine bowls, tilted their heads back and drank them down in one gulp, then smashed the bowls heavily on the ground and shouted in unison:

"Your Highness, rest assured, we will certainly live up to your expectations!"

As they said this, everyone's faces were filled with determined smiles.

This is because the army was well-supplied with food, supplies and pay for this expedition. Even the coal and cotton clothing for the winter were prepared properly, enough to feed them for half a year and allow them to get through the winter comfortably.

This was a level of treatment that had never been given to any large army before.

Furthermore, Zhu Cilang had previously hinted that upon their triumphant return, they would be rewarded according to their merits, and granted official titles and ranks, which further fueled their fighting spirit.

Zhu Cilang looked at the crowd before him, his heart filled with satisfaction, and then he smiled and said:

"I believe in you! I'm waiting for your good news in the Ming Dynasty!"

"Take care on your journey, everyone!"

After saying this, Zhu Cilang bowed to the crowd.

Everyone naturally responded by cupping their hands in greeting.

"Your Highness, please take care! We take our leave!"

After saying this, everyone mounted their horses and, led by Zheng Chenggong, set off in a grand procession towards the port of Tianjin.

The sound of horses' hooves shattered the morning mist, raising clouds of dust.

Zheng Chenggong turned back and gave Zhu Cilang a deep look, his eyes filled with both gratitude and reluctance, before disappearing into the distance with the main force.

Watching the army depart into the distance, Zhu Cilang was filled with a myriad of emotions.

However, he believed that Zheng Chenggong and his men would not let him down!

The future of the Ming Dynasty will surely be bright!
(End of this chapter)