Ming Dynasty: Pick up attributes from the battlefield to create the Ming Dynasty

Chapter 181 Zhu Di: He is Zhu Xiong Ying! How could he not be dead?

Several maids worked quickly and carefully to remove Zhu Ying's armor and clothes.

As each piece of armor and clothing was removed...

The shocking wounds on Zhu Ying's upper body were gradually revealed.

Both knife wounds and sword wounds clearly show the location of the injuries.

And the arrow wounds, some of them have healed, leaving only indented scars.

These scars may seem gruesome and terrifying to ordinary people.

But for the general, these are testaments to Zhu Ying's years of fighting on the battlefield, medals of his bravery and fearlessness. Behind each scar lies a thrilling battle and a life-or-death experience.

This is what Zhu Ying fought and won.

Even Zhu Di, a man of great experience and who had weathered countless storms, couldn't help but narrow his eyes slightly upon seeing Zhu Ying's body covered in wounds, a barely perceptible shock flashing in them.

"He has so many injuries?"

"They're all still alive!"

Zhu Di thought to himself, if an ordinary person had suffered so many and such severe injuries, they would probably have already died on the battlefield.

But Zhu Ying, who is standing before us, not only survived tenaciously, but also gradually rose to his current position and obtained the honorary title of Marquis of Champion.

All of this was undoubtedly earned through his hard-won military exploits, fought and baptized in blood and fire.

No one can question it!
After removing the armor.

Zhu Ying showed no embarrassment or politeness as he slowly walked towards the bath.

All the armor had been removed, leaving only a jade pendant around his neck.

He simply sat down directly against the bathtub.

"Taking a bath is really comfortable."

Zhu Ying sighed.

As soon as he entered the pool, Zhu Ying casually wiped his body, and the bloodstains left from the battle that day slowly seeped into the water along his arm, instantly turning the water around him a light red.

But since it was Zhu Di who invited him here, Zhu Ying had few concerns and looked calm, as if it were all just ordinary matters.

Subsequently.

Zhu Ying tilted his head slightly, a faint smile on his face, and looked at Zhu Di, asking, "Your Highness, Prince Yan, is there something important you wish to discuss with me today that you have summoned me here specifically?"

Since we're here, let's get straight to the point.

Upon hearing this, Zhu Di revealed a seemingly gentle smile and asked in return, "What, can't you call Brother Zhu over for a chat if there's nothing else going on?"

His tone was relaxed and casual, attempting to create a friendly and harmonious atmosphere.

Zhu Ying shook his head slightly, his smile still on his face, and said, "Your Highness is joking. Of course, that's not what I meant."

"It's just that Your Highness is usually very busy with affairs of state. Unless there is something important, I don't think you would specifically summon me."

Zhu Di wanted to get closer, but Zhu Ying's words carried a hint of distance. Although his words were respectful, there was an invisible barrier between them.

Zhu Di sighed inwardly, and the smile on his face became somewhat stiff.

Looking at Zhu Ying, Zhu Di felt a pang of disappointment.

He had always hoped to interact with Zhu Ying in a purely military manner, just as he had with other military leaders like Zhang Yu, and to treat them with sincerity.

But at this moment.

He could clearly sense that Zhu Ying seemed to be wary of him. This wariness was not manifested in obvious resistance in words or actions, but rather a deep-seated vigilance that made him feel that there was always something between him and Zhu Ying, making it difficult to truly get close.

Zhu Di took a deep breath, composed himself, and said, "Since the merchants under my command began cooperating with the Marquis of Champion's winery, business has become increasingly prosperous."

“Nowadays in Beiping, our liquor business has almost monopolized the entire market, and the Shen family’s liquor business no longer exists.”

The words fell.

Zhu Ying smirked, a hint of coldness flashing in his eyes, and said, "The Shen family was able to establish itself in the liquor business only because of my Zhu family's winery."

“They betrayed me and harmed me.”

"Now that we've ended up like this, it's all our own fault."

When the Shen family was mentioned, Zhu Di's tone was still filled with intense coldness, after all, they were his mortal enemies.

Zhu Di nodded slightly and continued, "The Shen family has had a really tough year."

"Not only did the liquor business plummet, but other trade routes in Beiping Prefecture were also almost completely cut off."

"It's strange, there's a group of bandits who specifically target the Shen family's merchant caravans, but ignore other merchants. The reason for this is quite intriguing."

talking.

Zhu Di's gaze was fixed on Zhu Ying, his eyes carrying a hint of profound meaning, and the probing continued.

Zhu Ying's expression remained unchanged, perfectly calm.

Subsequently.

Zhu Ying smiled faintly and said, "Evil people will be punished by other evil people."

“The Shen family has existed since the Yuan Dynasty. Over the years, they have committed countless heinous and outrageous acts. It is only natural that they would have enemies come knocking on their door.”

Zhu Di spoke in a calm tone, as if he were simply stating a perfectly ordinary fact.

In short.

The Shen family brought everything upon themselves; they were targeted by their enemies, and it had nothing to do with them.

Listen to Zhu Ying's words.

Zhu Di narrowed his eyes slightly, a sharp glint in them, and continued to probe, "I have already ordered a full-scale manhunt for this band of mountain bandits."

"Now, we have found some clues."

"What do you think, Marquis Champion, if I were to wipe them all out in one fell swoop?"

It seems so.

This question carries a hint of inquiry, but in reality, it is still a probe.

Most people would find it difficult to withstand Zhu Di's gaze.

but.

Zhu Ying remained calm and said without hesitation, "The bandits act recklessly, disregard the laws of the Ming Dynasty, and harm the people. They should be arrested and brought to justice."

"If they resist stubbornly and refuse to be arrested, they shall be severely punished according to the laws of the Ming Dynasty, and all shall be executed to uphold the law of the country and serve as a warning to others."

Zhu Ying spoke without the slightest hesitation, directly stating his position: it was none of his business anyway.

But deep down...

Seeing Zhu Di's increasingly aggressive approach and constant probing into the matter of the bandits and the Shen family, Zhu Ying's apprehension towards him grew stronger.

"They're still testing me."

"Trying to find something on me?" Zhu Ying sneered inwardly.

Zhu Di's claim that he had tracked down the bandits was nothing but nonsense.

With the rigorous training and superb stealth skills of his Black Guards, he was absolutely confident that the yamen runners of Beiping Prefecture would have no way to deal with them.

In Zhu Ying's view, Zhu Di's series of tests were all aimed at gaining leverage over him and taking advantage of the situation.
Therefore, how could Zhu Ying allow Zhu Di to succeed?

"What the Marquis of Champions said is absolutely right."

Zhu Di nodded, a smile returning to his face, as if he were very satisfied with Zhu Ying's answer.

But in fact.

He seemed to have completely gotten used to not being able to get any useful information from Zhu Yingshi. Although he felt a little unwilling, he was helpless.

“Nowadays in Beiping, the liquor business is making a fortune.”

"I wonder if the Marquis of Champion has any ideas on expanding this business to other prefectures, so that our fine wines can be found throughout the Ming Dynasty?"

Zhu Di changed the subject and brought up a new topic, his eyes filled with anticipation.

Zhu Ying shook his head slightly, a calm smile on his face, and said, "Your Highness, doing business requires a steady and cautious approach. You can't take too big a step, or you'll easily stumble."

“Now my family’s winery and restaurant have been opened in Daning Prefecture, Liaodong Prefecture and Beiping Prefecture, and they are doing well and making enough money.”

"As for expanding into other prefectures, we might as well hold off for now and make plans later."

Zhu Ying's tone was tactful, but his attitude was very firm; in fact, he was politely declining to continue cooperating with Zhu Di.

As his status continued to rise, he had his own plans. If he wanted to continue expanding his business, he preferred to rely on his own strength and did not want to have too much involvement with Zhu Di.

After all, he knew that Zhu Di was a cunning and scheming man, and dealing with such a person could easily lead to utter ruin if one was not careful.

Although I am not afraid of anything, there is no need for it.

Upon hearing Zhu Ying's refusal, Zhu Di's smile froze for a moment, but he quickly returned to normal.

however.

A hint of dissatisfaction flashed deep in his eyes.

In his view, Zhu Ying's current refusal was undoubtedly a form of disrespect towards him, which made him quite unhappy.

"This time, the Marquis of Champion insists on going north to pursue Emperor Yuan. Does he know that the northern frontier is extremely dangerous and not an easy task?" Zhu Di's tone became serious, and he changed the subject again.

In this regard.

Zhu Ying's eyes were firm, and he said without hesitation, "There is no absolutely safe place on the battlefield."

"The only way to completely eliminate the scourge in the northern frontier is to pursue Emperor Yuan and capture and kill him."

"As long as he lives, there will never be peace in the northern frontier."

"Although I, Zhu Ying, am not a particularly virtuous person, as a Han Chinese, it is my duty to protect my homeland and drive out foreign enemies."

"Moreover, if we can successfully pursue Emperor Yuan and achieve the feat of sealing the wolf's lair, that would be the highest honor for a military general. Wouldn't that be wonderful!"

Zhu Ying was filled with lofty ambitions and was determined to pursue the enemy northward.

These are the truth.

of course.

There's one more thing I haven't mentioned: the Imperial Seal of the State, a symbol of imperial power, which Zhu Ying also wanted.

"To seal the wolf's lair and dwell in the Xu... Yes, what man doesn't have such a dream in his heart?"

Zhu Di murmured to himself, a deep longing evident in his eyes.

It was an aspiration for glory and a pursuit of power. In his heart, the sealing of the wolf's lair was not only a military achievement, but also a symbol, symbolizing his ability and status.

"Speaking of which, if the Marquis of Champion returns in triumph after this Northern Expedition, Father and my elder brother will surely bestow upon him great rewards."

"I wonder if the Marquis of Champion would be willing to come to my Beiping Prefecture to serve as a general?"

"If you come, I will do my best to recommend you. The Marquis of Champion can at least be promoted to the position of Deputy Commander-in-Chief, and may even become the Commander-in-Chief. He might even be able to control the military power of Beiping Prefecture and Daning Prefecture."

Zhu Di looked at Zhu Ying with a serious expression, his eyes full of expectation.

When he asked this question, he was actually a little uneasy, because it concerned whether he could recruit Zhu Ying to his side, and had a crucial impact on his future plans.

Zhu Ying sneered inwardly, naturally understanding the attempt to win over Zhu Di in his words.

But how could he so easily take the bait?

Zhu Ying smiled apologetically, then clasped his hands and said, "Thank you for your kindness, Your Highness."

"But after the Northern Expedition succeeds and I go to the capital to report on my duties, I'm afraid my future arrangements will still be to stay in Daning Prefecture."

"According to His Highness Prince Ning, His Highness the Crown Prince intends to hand over the control of the Jiangzhou Guard to me."

"Moreover, I've heard that a capital city may be established in Daning Prefecture or Liaodong Prefecture in the future."

"Therefore, this humble general still wishes to stay there and guard the northern border for the Ming Dynasty."

Zhu Ying was polite and tactful, but his refusal was very clear.

Hear this!

The smile on Zhu Di's face vanished instantly, replaced by a clear look of displeasure.

The chill in his heart was even greater.

Zhu Ying's words were undoubtedly another rejection of his attempts to win him over, and his attitude was firm, leaving no room for negotiation.

In his view, Zhu Ying was pretending to be confused when he knew the truth, deliberately ignoring him, which made him feel very frustrated.

At that moment, the atmosphere inside the hall instantly became oppressive, as if an invisible haze was hanging over the two of them.

Although Zhu Di harbored many grievances and resentments, he also understood that continuing to argue today would be futile.

then.

Zhu Di suppressed his emotions and said calmly, "In that case, I wish the Marquis of Champion all the best in his future endeavors."

now.

Zhu Di's tone was cold, devoid of his previous enthusiasm and expectation.

Zhu Ying naturally sensed the displeasure in Zhu Di's tone, but he didn't care.

Zhu Ying calmly replied, "Then thank you for your blessing, Your Highness."

"After a day of fighting, I am quite exhausted. If Your Highness has nothing else to say, I will return to my camp to rest."

Say it.

Zhu Ying slowly stood up, preparing to leave.

Zhu Ying's action was undoubtedly a way of showing Zhu Di that he would not be swayed by Zhu Di's attitude.

Zhu Ying naturally sensed the displeasure in Zhu Di's tone, but so what?

You're ambitious!

They want to win me over.

But Zhu Yingke won't fall for it.

Moreover, Zhu Di was wrong from the beginning. Zhu Ying would never be loyal to anyone, whether it was Zhu Yuanzhang or Zhu Biao.

Zhu Ying nowadays is constantly using the Ming Dynasty's warships to strengthen himself, obtain more treasure chests, and gain more attributes.

Loyalty?

ridiculous!

nonexistent.

"In that case, Marquis Champion, please return."

Zhu Di's tone grew increasingly cold, carrying a chilling undertone.

Now that he had determined that Zhu Ying could not be subdued, he no longer concealed his emotions and his attitude became indifferent.

Zhu Ying didn't say anything more and immediately stood up from the bath.

Water splashed everywhere.

however!
Just then, Zhu Di's eyes narrowed sharply as he stared intently at the jade pendant around Zhu Ying's neck, his eyes filled with shock and disbelief.

"Wait!" Zhu Di suddenly called out, his voice tinged with urgency.

Zhu Ying stopped and turned around, a hint of doubt in his eyes, and asked, "Your Highness, do you have any further instructions?"

Zhu Di's gaze remained fixed on the jade, as if he were frozen in place.

After a while.

He then came to his senses and said with a smile, "The jade pendant around your neck looks quite extraordinary."

"I have seen countless rare treasures in this world, but I have never seen such a unique and beautiful jade."

Zhu Di's smile held a hint of curiosity, as he tried to conceal his inner shock and panic.

Zhu Ying looked down at the jade pendant around his neck, a keepsake left to him by his grandmother, which held great significance for him.

Zhu Ying calmly replied, "This was left by my grandmother."

"Perhaps our ancestors were high-ranking officials, which is why they left us this piece of jade."

"In my humble opinion, it merely carries the memories of our ancestors, and I don't find anything particularly special about it."

That's the truth.

But Zhu Di's eyes never left the jade, and his curiosity grew stronger as he said, "May I take a look?"

"I have always been quite knowledgeable about fine jade, and I really want to take a closer look at the texture and carving of this piece of jade."

talking.

Without waiting for Zhu Ying to refuse, Zhu Di casually wrapped a piece of cloth around his neck and walked eagerly toward Zhu Ying.

Zhu Ying thought to himself, "Zhu Di is really strange today. With his status, what kind of beautiful jade hasn't he seen? Why is he so interested in my jade? Is he just making an excuse?"

But Zhu Di was, after all, a prince with a noble status, and the other party did not show any malice at the moment.

Seeing Zhu Di's enthusiastic and interested expression, Zhu Ying hesitated for a moment, but ultimately did not refuse.

Thinking that it was just a quick glance at the other party, there shouldn't be any problem.

then.

Zhu Ying took a towel from the maid and casually wrapped it around his waist. Then he slowly took the jade from his neck and handed it to Zhu Di.

The moment Zhu Di received the jade pendant, he appeared calm on the surface, but in reality, his pupils dilated instantly, and his heart was filled with turbulent emotions.

"How is this possible? How could this be?"

Zhu Di was screaming wildly in his heart.

"This jade pendant...this jade pendant was clearly buried in the imperial mausoleum back then, how could it still be here?"

"Could it be...could it be..."

At this moment, Zhu Di's heart was filled with terror, a fear he had never felt before, as if he had discovered a secret that could overturn the entire Ming Dynasty.

On that jade pendant, the character "Yu" is clearly visible. It was the posthumous title that Zhu Yuanzhang personally bestowed upon an ancestor. Zhu Di was very familiar with this character, as it carried a secret history of the royal family.

Now, this jade pendant, which should have been buried deep underground, has appeared on Zhu Ying's body. How could Zhu Di not be shocked and terrified?
"Your Highness, have you seen enough?"

Seeing Zhu Di holding the jade pendant and remaining silent for a long time, Zhu Ying grew impatient and finally asked.

All he wanted to do at that moment was to retrieve the jade pendant, return to camp to rest, and end the day's exhaustion.

Zhu Di seemed to wake from a dream, raised his head, looked at Zhu Ying with a serious expression, and said, "Marquis of Champion, I wonder if you would be willing to part with this jade pendant?"

"I am willing to pay a hefty sum to buy it, and I will not haggle over any price you ask for."

Zhu Di's eyes were filled with longing, as if he was genuinely interested.

Zhu Ying shook his head without hesitation and said firmly, "Prince Yan, this jade is a family heirloom. The steward of my family has instructed that it is a family heirloom and cannot be sold no matter how much money is offered."

"It holds special significance for me, and I hope Your Highness will understand."

Zhu Ying revealed an undeniable determination: this jade pendant was a heirloom, priceless.

Upon hearing this, a strong sense of disappointment flashed in Zhu Di's eyes. He had originally held onto a sliver of hope that his status would allow Zhu Ying to sell him the jade pendant, but now it seemed that hope had been completely shattered.

Seeing Zhu Ying's calm yet somewhat indifferent gaze, she had no choice but to slowly hand over the jade pendant.

"Your Highness, I shall take my leave."

Zhu Ying took the jade pendant, hung it back around his neck, then turned and strode away from the main hall.

Watching Zhu Ying's figure gradually disappear from the main hall!
Zhu Di's eyes were filled with complex emotions: shock, doubt, resentment, and deep worry.

"He really is Zhu Xiong Ying."

"When I first saw him, I felt that his eyes and temperament were familiar, and now it seems that I was right."

"But how is this possible?"

“He was clearly dead, and I even watched him being buried.”

"How could he possibly come back to life?"

"Could there really be gods and immortals in this world?"

"Or...or did Mother do something that no one knows about back then?"

now.

Zhu Di's mind was in complete turmoil, with countless questions swirling in his head. He couldn't understand what was going on at all.

original!

Zhu Di was simply thinking of taking this opportunity to test Zhu Ying and see if he could win him over and use him for his own purposes.

Unexpectedly, this casual glance led him to discover this earth-shattering secret.

If this news gets out, it will surely cause an unimaginable shock throughout the entire Ming Empire.

Zhu Di was quite certain that the jade pendant belonged to Zhu Xiong Ying in the past.

Back then, he personally witnessed this jade pendant being buried in the imperial mausoleum along with Zhu Xiong Ying. Now, it has appeared on Zhu Ying's person, which is no coincidence.

Considering all of Zhu Ying's circumstances!
When he enlisted, his age was deliberately inflated by the Shen family, and his real age matched Zhu Xiong Ying's perfectly. His eyes were just like Zhu Xiong Ying's, as if they were carved from the same mold.

All the clues pointed to a startling conclusion: Zhu Ying was Zhu Xiong Ying, his nephew, the eldest son of his elder brother Zhu Biao, the former eldest grandson of the Ming Dynasty emperor, and also Zhu Yuanzhang's most beloved grandson.

now!

Zhu Di stood alone in the bath, as if frozen in place, completely still.

His eyes were vacant, his thoughts already drifted far away.

Everything around him seemed irrelevant; he was completely immersed in his own world, shocked and troubled by this enormous secret.

The maids serving him all lowered their heads, their eyes darting around, not daring to breathe or make a sound, for fear of disturbing Zhu Di, who was deep in thought.

These maids were originally palace maids in the Yuan Emperor's palace.

But as the Ming army's iron cavalry breached the Yuan capital, their dynasty collapsed instantly.

Now, they are under the control of the Ming army, and as palace maids, they will be reduced to slavery.

They knew that Zhu Di, as a prince, held the power of life and death and was unpredictable.

If they were to be careless and offend this prince, they would surely face certain death.

"Let's all go back."

In the suffocating silence, a deep voice drifted from the depths of the inner sanctum.

"Yes."

Upon hearing this, the maids felt as if they had been granted a pardon and hurriedly knelt down in gratitude.

Their movements were hurried and flustered; they didn't even have time to look up at the source of the sound before they turned around and hurriedly retreated out of the hall.

As they left the main hall, they slowly closed the doors, remaining cautious and careful not to make the slightest noise.

Yao Guangxiao, holding Buddhist prayer beads and dressed in a black monk's robe, slowly walked out from the inner hall.

When he saw Zhu Di, who was standing motionless in the bath, he frowned slightly, a hint of concern flashing in his eyes.

Yao Guangxiao coughed lightly, took a few steps forward, stood by the bath, and slowly said in a tone of persuasion, "Your Highness, since this person is difficult to win over, then you should make a decision as soon as possible."

"The prince has always been worried that he holds military power in the northern frontier, which may become a major threat to the prince in the future."

"In my humble opinion, there are two ways to deal with this person."

Yao Guangxiao paused slightly, deep in thought and calculating: "First, we should find a way to kill him on the battlefield in the northern frontier. In this way, we can naturally eliminate a major threat to our lives."

"Secondly, we should find a way to keep him away from the northern frontier, preferably so that he never gets involved in the court again and remains a powerless official in the capital. In this way, we can keep him firmly under control and he will be nothing to fear."

As Yao Guangxiao spoke, he observed Zhu Di's expression.

but.

Zhu Di remained standing there blankly, his eyes vacant, seemingly ignoring his words.

"My lord, what's going on?"

Yao Guangxiao couldn't help but wonder to himself.

In his view, although Zhu Di was frustrated because he could not subdue Zhu Ying, he would never be so absent-minded!

But Yao Guangxiao had no idea.

At this moment, Zhu Di's mind was already occupied by that shocking secret, and it was not about his inability to subdue Zhu Ying at all.

Zhu Di fell into deep thought, completely stunned. It was all because of that jade pendant, because of Zhu Ying's identity!

……

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(End of this chapter)