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

Chapter 213 Current Status and Deployment of the Army

With the departure of Qian Zhongcai and Liu Erniu, Zhu Zhanhe had established a basic framework for his military strategy.

As for the civil officials, there was only his father-in-law, Xia Yuanji, left. He could only rely on his father-in-law to maintain the status quo and wait for a change. If all else failed, Zhu Zhanhe would recruit people himself!
Uncle Wei Jizhong has been busy sorting out the property matters after the relocation of the Prince's Mansion, and he is extremely busy.

The only person who was somewhat free was the old Taoist priest Zhang Zhengheng, but he was too old...

Alright, let's leave it at that for now. We'll see how things go as we go! Zhu Zhanhe is now in a situation where even a skilled cook can't cook without rice.

"Your Highness, Second Master and General Hu have brought a guest and are waiting outside the door." Just as Zhu Zhanhe was continuing to plan the next steps for the Prince's Mansion, suddenly, Steward Hu's voice rang out from outside the door.

"Come in!" Zhu Zhanhe glanced at the sky outside. It was almost lunchtime, but there was still some time, so he decided to meet the person who came.

"Yes." Steward Hu quickly replied upon hearing Zhu Zhanhe's instructions.

"Greetings, elder brother," Zhu Zhanqi bowed respectfully upon entering.

"Greetings, Your Highness." Hu Tian also knelt down and bowed respectfully.

"Greetings, Your Highness!" Another unfamiliar middle-aged man knelt respectfully along with Hu Tian.

"Alright, get up, everyone." Zhu Zhanhe raised his hand to let the others stand up.

"Thank you, Your Highness!" Hu Tian and another man, who were kneeling, stood up very cautiously.

"Who is this...?" Zhu Zhanhe asked, looking at the unfamiliar middle-aged man with a puzzled expression.

"Your Highness, I am Jiang Xiaohu, currently serving as a commander of the Yunnan Imperial Guard."

"By order of His Highness Prince Zhao, I have come to report to His Highness the Crown Prince. From now on, I will be at His Highness's beck and call!" Upon hearing Zhu Zhanhe's question, Jiang Xiaohu immediately knelt down, respectfully bowed to Zhu Zhanhe, and replied.

"Your surname is Jiang? Your given name is Xiao Hu? And you've joined the Embroidered Uniform Guard?"

"Hehe, Third Uncle is indeed amazing, he actually managed to find you!" When Zhu Zhanhe heard that the visitor's surname was Jiang, he couldn't help but think of the first commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard by Emperor Taizu Gao's side. He was surprised and frowned. Then he asked a probing question.

Sure enough, after hearing Zhu Zhanhe's words, Jiang Xiaohu, who was kneeling on the ground, visibly trembled, but Zhu Zhanhe still noticed it keenly. Instantly, Zhu Zhanhe had a better understanding of the situation.

"Alright, get up. Since Third Uncle has put you in my service, I naturally need to get to know you better." Zhu Zhanhe gestured for Jiang Xiaohu to stand up.

"Thank you, Your Highness." After Jiang Xiaohu stood up, the look in his eyes as he looked at Zhu Zhanhe was clearly different.

"Go and compile a complete list of information on all officials in Yunnan's prefectures, circuits, and administrative divisions, and submit it to us."

There is also the distribution of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

Oh, and please thank my third uncle for me; I will never forget his support.

"The promises I made are absolutely true!" Zhu Zhanhe wanted to test Jiang Xiaohu's mettle, so he immediately assigned an important but not urgent task. After the military parade, under the powerful military might, this information would be useless!
"Yes, sir!" Jiang Xiaohu agreed without hesitation. He knew that in order to gain a foothold in front of the Crown Prince of Han, he had to play his part.

"General Hu!" Zhu Zhanhe summoned General Hu Tian for questioning.

"Your subordinate is here!" Hu Tian obediently stepped forward and answered.

"Tell me about the basic situation on your side," Zhu Zhanhe asked. "Your Highness, the soldiers sent by the two princes are elite troops, trained in the same manner as the late emperor's three major camps."

The battalion consists of 2,000 heavy cavalry and 6,000 light cavalry.

The five battalions had more than 18,000 infantrymen, including spearmen and swordsmen, and 2,000 light cavalry on each of the left and right flanks.

The Shenji Battalion had over 20,000 soldiers, 500 heavy cannons, and over 10,000 other types of light cannons and muskets. It also had over 50,000 cannonballs and 30 cartloads of gunpowder pellets.

In addition, there were over 30,000 military doctors, horse officers, and various auxiliary soldiers.

"The provisions and supplies are enough for the entire army for a year." Hu Tian's report left Zhu Zhanhe speechless. He couldn't help but marvel at how wealthy his father and third uncle were!

They've probably scraped the land off the provinces they've occupied! Immediately, Zhu Zhanhe shook his head and reminded himself that it wouldn't be fair to eat his father's good food while simultaneously smashing his father's iron pot!
"General Hu, there are two things that need to be addressed urgently."

Today is day one. On day five, I will conduct military exercises to intimidate the entire Yunnan province. You will be in charge of planning the exercises. I have only one requirement: that the entire Yunnan province must grovel at my feet!

"The second thing is that starting today, you will be the commander of the three major battalions. I will send Qian Zhongcai to lead the three thousand battalions. As for the commanders of the other two battalions, you will make arrangements for them. Don't make me worry about them anymore, and don't disappoint me." Zhu Zhanhe looked at Hu Tian in front of him and said solemnly.

"Your humble servant obeys!" Hu Tian was extremely excited at this moment. Although the position of commander of the Three Thousand Camps had been taken away, His Highness the Crown Prince still left him two commander positions, and he was also promoted to commander of the Three Great Camps!
Zhu Zhanqi, standing to the side, looked at his eldest brother, who was strategizing with great respect, and felt extremely excited, even his breathing became heavier.

"Alright, you can go now, Zhanqi, stay here!" Zhu Zhanhe saw that it was getting late and let the two of them leave first, after all, there was a family banquet later!

As for why they weren't invited to stay for dinner, firstly, there was a family dinner planned, and secondly, maintaining a balance in managing subordinates is key; a balance of leniency and strictness is essential, and one cannot be overly lenient all the time.

"This humble general takes his leave."

"Your humble servants take their leave," Jiang Xiaohu and Hu Tian bowed respectfully and withdrew.

Watching the two slowly retreat, Zhu Zhanhe slowly stood up, walked to his younger brother, and patted him on the shoulder.

"Second brother, let's go eat together." Zhu Zhanhe pulled his somewhat nervous younger brother and headed towards the main hall of the Prince's Mansion.

"Second brother, are you adjusting well to life in the military camp?" Zhu Zhanhe asked, trying to ease the tension by looking at his somewhat reserved younger brother. He inquired about his first day in the military camp.

"I'm alright." Zhu Zhanqi replied somewhat stiffly after hearing his elder brother's question.

"It's okay if you're not used to it yet, you'll get used to it slowly." Zhu Zhanhe knew from his younger brother's answer that his brother was probably not used to military life at all. After all, how could his brother, who had been pampered since childhood, adapt to military life on the first day?

"Second brother, remember this well: if you want to wear the crown, you must bear the weight."

"As princes, if we want to have great ambitions, we must endure more hardship than others!" Zhu Zhanhe turned around and solemnly admonished his younger brother behind him.

"I will follow your teachings, elder brother!" Upon hearing Zhu Zhanhe's words, Zhu Zhanqi was clearly taken aback. After a moment of thought, he respectfully bowed to Zhu Zhanhe.

"Alright, let's go. The younger siblings are probably getting impatient." Seeing that his younger brother had taken his words to heart, Zhu Zhanhe was very satisfied. He patted his brother's shoulder again, then turned and walked ahead.

Zhu Zhanqi quickly followed his elder brother's footsteps.

(End of this chapter)