Ming Dynasty: The Crocodile King of Han Prince Zhu Gaoxu's Family

Chapter 208 Prince Zhao: I will dispatch my most elite team!
"Old Qian, you take the brothers ahead and scout ahead," Zhu Zhanhe said to the fat man Qian Zhongcai after glancing at his wife and mother's carriage from his horse.

"Yes, sir!"
"Brothers, follow me, let's scout ahead for His Highness." Without any hesitation, Qian Zhongcai led a hundred or so cavalrymen straight to the front of the column.

Yes, Qian Zhongcai, the former leader of the heavy cavalry battalion, upon hearing that Zhu Zhanhe was to be enfeoffed, did not hesitate at all. He led about a hundred heavy cavalrymen from the battalion to join Zhu Zhanhe, and even took away the heavy cavalry battalion's horses and equipment! In Qian Zhongcai's words, the person he admired most in his life was His Highness the Crown Prince of Han, and he was willing to follow His Highness the Crown Prince of Han for the rest of his life!

Immediately afterwards, he brought all his family members to seek refuge with Zhu Zhanhe.

"Master, tell Xiao Jindou and the others to keep a close eye on your scriptures; they are your treasures!" Zhu Zhanhe rode his horse to the old Taoist Zhang Zhengheng's carriage and whispered his instructions.

"Give me back my baby? I think it's your baby!"
You've practically emptied the Taoist temple's scripture repository! I personally checked it every day, so you don't need to worry!
Do you really think that I, an old Taoist priest, brought these hundred or so people for nothing?

"I've also heard that you're still eyeing the Yongle Encyclopedia! What, you brat, are you planning to steal another copy?" The old Taoist priest Zhang Zhengheng looked at the student on horseback who had gotten a good deal and was now acting innocent, with a disdainful expression, and muttered irritably.

"Alright, alright, you should rest now, I'd better go and get busy." Faced with the old Taoist's accusations, Zhu Zhanhe simply spurred his horse and left, leaving the old Taoist rolling his eyes in the carriage.

"Old Liu!" Zhu Zhanhe looked up and called over Liu Erniu, who was keeping watch around the carriage.

"Your Highness!" Liu Erniu ran over immediately upon hearing the call.

"Send a few men to protect my uncle as he goes to find the prince, and bring my token and personal letter with him."

I'll say I need 50,000 elite troops! Including all weapons and equipment! And I also require them to include all types of soldiers.

Tell the Prince that he must send the person to his fiefdom at the same time I arrive in Yunnan.” Zhu Zhanhe’s so-called letter had already been given to his uncle, Wei Jizhong. Now, however, he was not going to wait any longer and was going to send someone directly to the Prince of Han to demand the person.

"Yes!" Upon hearing Zhu Zhanhe's words, Liu Erniu was taken aback for a moment, but immediately understood and responded loudly before going to make the arrangements.

"Chief Steward Hu!" Zhu Zhanhe continued arranging matters before entering the fiefdom and called out to Chief Steward Hu.

"Your Highness!" Chief Steward Hu immediately rode over and listened respectfully to Zhu Zhanhe's instructions.

"You should make a trip yourself and arrive at your fiefdom in Yunnan ahead of others. Although the Prince's Palace has already arranged for people to go and prepare, I am still worried. You should go and take a look yourself."

"Notify the officials of the Prince's Palace and the Mu Prince's Palace that a fully armed army of 50,000 has arrived with us. Tell them to prepare to receive the Emperor!" Zhu Zhanhe said, sitting upright on his horse and staring intently at Chief Steward Hu.

"Yes!" When Chief Steward Hu heard that there were still 50,000 troops, he was so frightened that he immediately agreed.

"Go find Erniu and ask him to send someone to take you there."

"Also, have someone go find Xiao Xizi and tell him that I will personally receive him at the new Han Prince's Mansion!" Zhu Zhanhe looked at the astonished Steward Hu and reminded him again.

"Yes, sir!" Facing the chilling gaze of the Crown Prince of Han, Steward Hu immediately agreed.

Soon, Liu Erniu rode up to Zhu Zhanhe.

"Your Highness, many people came to see me today, wanting to go to their fiefdoms ahead of schedule. But sending so many people has greatly weakened our guard force!"
"Your Highness, what do you think of this matter...?" Liu Erniu sat on horseback, looking troubled. He knew very well that he was the commander of the personal guard, and every wave of men sent out weakened the guard's strength, which in turn weakened his power in the Prince's mansion.

Moreover, the addition of the Crown Prince's trusted heavy cavalry force has made Liu Erniu feel tense and uneasy.

"Have all the people been arranged to go out?" Zhu Zhanhe did not answer Liu Erniu's question directly, but instead asked seriously.

"Your Highness, I have made all the arrangements, and those sent out are all absolute confidants of the Prince's Mansion!" Although Liu Erniu was puzzled by the Prince's arrangements, he still did his best to arrange everything.

"Erniu, I didn't misjudge you!" Zhu Zhanhe looked at Liu Erniu, who was riding on horseback with a somewhat aggrieved expression, and felt very gratified.

"Huh...?" Liu Erniu looked at the prince he had always served with a puzzled expression, his face full of astonishment.

"Erniu, I'll only say this once, so remember it well."

The palace has its Imperial Guard, and the Prince's residence has its own guard. The guard has served the Prince's residence for many years and is the most important protective force within the Prince's residence.

"Therefore, I must send reliable people to handle some important matters concerning the secrets of the Prince's Mansion, understand?" Zhu Zhanhe said to Liu Erniu with a serious expression.

"Your Highness, Erniu is ignorant and humbly begs for forgiveness!"

"Please, Your Highness, punish us!" Hearing the Crown Prince's explanation, Liu Erniu felt a pang of shame, but at the same time, a surge of responsibility filled him with excitement. His team, led by Liu Erniu, truly was the Crown Prince's most trusted group, without exception!

Liu Erniu suddenly fell to the ground and knelt down in front of Zhu Zhanhe.

"Erniu, get up quickly, there's no need for this."

Remember this: you are an old member of the Prince's Mansion. Things in the future will not be so simple.

"You must work hard!" Zhu Zhanhe said again, encouraging Liu Erniu, looking at his excited expression.

"Understood!" Liu Erniu responded excitedly, mounted his horse with a bang, and rode off.

Liu Erniu's voice drew the attention of many, including the Crown Princess Xia. As she lifted the carriage curtain and gazed affectionately at the man riding the tall horse, her face flushed red, and she was momentarily stunned...

Time flies, and Zhu Zhanhe and his companions continue their journey.

Meanwhile, Wei Jizhong, with several soldiers on horseback, had already arrived at the Prince of Han's camp.

"Your Highness, His Highness the Crown Prince has sent us with a token and a letter." Wei Jizhong carefully handed the letter and the token to the Prince of Han. Even the Prince of Zhao, who was standing to the side, came over with great interest, watching the commotion with a smile.

"What?! That brat wants 50,000 of my elite troops?! Why doesn't he just rob me?!" The Prince of Han was completely dumbfounded after reading his son's letter.

He's in the middle of a rebellion, it's a crucial time for military operations, yet his precious son has sent him a letter demanding that he immediately send 50,000 elite troops to his fiefdom in Yunnan, regardless of the cost.

His own son, at this crucial moment of rebellion, actually came and demanded 50,000 elite troops! Was this some kind of joke? At the same time, the Prince of Han handed the letter to the Prince of Zhao, who was standing to the side.

"Second Prince, what do you think!" Prince Zhao finished reading the letter handed to him by Prince Han with a serious expression. He frowned, but still asked a crucial question.

Prince Zhao wanted to know how Prince Han planned to handle his son's request to send troops.

"And you?" The Prince of Han painfully snatched the letter from the Prince of Zhao's hand, pressed it against his face, slumped into his chair, and asked with difficulty.

"Second Prince, I agree to this!" Faced with the Prince of Han's question, the Prince of Zhao thought for a moment and gave the clearest answer.

"Third brother...?!" The Prince of Han looked at his younger brother in astonishment and asked, somewhat confused.

"Second brother, the outcome of our rebellion is still uncertain."

But now that we have such capabilities and such manpower.

But the children have different ideas, so why don't we let them try again?

If we win, we win; if we lose, we lose.

But if the children achieve something else and pursue a different career, then everything is still uncertain.

I have agreed to this. Upon returning, I will immediately arrange for the elite troops in the camp to be relieved of their posts.

"Furthermore, I will send my most elite troops to find your son!" Prince Zhao said with a smile, revealing his purpose to Prince Han.

(End of this chapter)