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

Chapter 218 Touring the Lake in Dali
"Your Highness?!" Mu Sheng looked at Zhu Zhanhe, who was standing on the city wall, gesturing confidently. He subconsciously wanted to speak up and persuade Zhu Zhanhe to reconsider and not cause war, which would bring disaster to Yunnan.

"Your Highness, please reconsider!"

Your Highness, please reconsider!

"Your Highness, please reconsider!" With Mu Sheng's lead, the local officials who had been sitting upright on both sides of the city wall seemed to have found a pillar of support and began to urge Zhu Zhanhe to think twice before acting.

In an instant, Mu Sheng, who had just opened his mouth but was speechless, suddenly trembled and broke out in a cold sweat. He then realized that in his haste, he had unintentionally become the leader of the local officials!

Meanwhile, Zhu Zhanqi looked anxiously at his elder brother and glared angrily at the officials around him, especially Mu Sheng, who was speaking first; his eyes were practically spitting fire.

"Uncle Mu, the lake tour will take a while, there's no need for you to be in such a hurry!" Zhu Zhanhe said with a smile to Mu Sheng, who seemed hesitant to speak, giving Mu Sheng a way out and showing no concern for the commotion caused by Mu Sheng.

"Your Highness?!" Mu Sheng looked at Zhu Zhanhe, who was still all smiles, and suddenly felt a cold sweat pour down his back. He opened his mouth but was speechless.

"Uncle Mu, please sit down and rest for a moment while I finish dealing with the chores." Zhu Zhanhe's words were still very gentle, but Mu Sheng seemed to see endless tyranny in his eyes!
"What, do you all have objections to what I said?!" Zhu Zhanhe's words, though calm, were like thunderclaps that exploded on the Dali city tower! They resounded in the ears of every official, accompanied by an endless and immense pressure.

"Thump, thump." The sounds of people falling down echoed continuously on the city wall. Even Mu Sheng, who had just sat down in surprise and doubt, was so frightened by the sudden and enormous pressure that he slid off his chair and knelt down on his backside! If Mu Sheng, who had been through many battles, was like this, one can only imagine how the other local officials were.

Hehehehe.

You are all elders of Zhanhe. If you agree with what the juniors say, you can simply respond with a word. Why do you have to kneel down?
"Uncles and elders, please rise quickly." Zhu Zhanhe looked at the local officials kneeling on the city wall and seemed surprised, taking several steps back with a flustered expression. He then kindly urged everyone to get up.

"Zhanqi, quickly help all the uncles and elders up!" Zhu Zhanhe retreated to the main seat on the city wall, slowly sat down, took a sip of tea from the small tea table, and then said to his younger brother Zhu Zhanqi, who was kneeling behind him.

"Understood!" Zhu Zhanqi, though his face was filled with panic—the terrifying and overwhelming pressure he had just experienced, as if the sky had collapsed, had swept over him, causing him to involuntarily kneel on the ground—only reacted after hearing his elder brother's words. He rose with a look of astonishment and uncertainty, staring at his brother in horror. Had his elder brother been the one to unleash that oppressive pressure?!

"Uncle Mu, please sit down." Zhu Zhanqi was quite perceptive. He went straight to Mu Sheng's side and helped him up. As for the others, he ignored them all.

"General Hu, bring the entire army back!" Zhu Zhanhe had no time to pay attention to the local officials who had fallen to the ground. He looked at the soldiers watching the spectacle below the city and spoke calmly.

"Your subordinate obeys!" Although Hu Tian was somewhat surprised by the commotion on the city wall, he did not hesitate at all in response to Zhu Zhanhe's order and immediately agreed.

"All troops, return to camp!" Hu Tian then decisively led the soldiers of the three battalions back to camp, after all, he had received an important mission from His Highness the Crown Prince.

"Gentlemen, this military exercise has now come to an end."

Later, the Prince's Palace will arrange for someone to escort you all away. I ask all local officials to do their jobs well and not make things difficult for me! Zhu Zhanhe did not intend to personally escort the local officials from various parts of Yunnan away, so he made special arrangements for someone to do so.

"Chief Steward Hu, see everyone off!" Zhu Zhanhe turned his head and addressed Chief Steward Hu of the Prince's Mansion, who had been serving behind him and was practically invisible, ordering him to personally escort the officials from various regions away. After all, even a seventh-rank official had to stand before the Prime Minister's door; his chief steward of the Prince's Mansion was more than enough to give face to the officials in charge of the various regions.

"Yes," Chief Steward Hu suppressed his excitement and obediently agreed to Zhu Zhanhe's request.

"Second brother, you go ahead and go over all the details of the lake tour one last time," Zhu Zhanhe said to his younger brother behind him as he turned his head.

"Don't worry, brother, I'll go right away!" Zhu Zhanqi was full of energy at the moment, and after hearing his brother's instructions, he left without stopping.

"Your Highness, I shall take my leave!"

"Your Highness, this humble official takes his leave." On the walls of Dali, local officials from various parts of Yunnan bowed and bid farewell as they passed Zhu Zhanhe. They had realized that the prince before them was a smiling tiger; as long as they didn't offend him, everything was fine. But if they angered him even slightly, it would mean utter ruin! They had just passed the first hurdle and didn't want to provoke the tiger again!
"Uncle Mu, please!" Seeing that all the local officials had left, Zhu Zhanhe politely invited Mu Sheng to go boating on the lake.

"Your Highness, please!" Mu Sheng was extremely cautious towards Zhu Zhanhe. He respectfully stood up, bowed slightly, and invited Zhu Zhanhe to take the lead.

The two walked to the foot of the city gate, where several carriages were already lined up neatly, waiting for a long time.

"Uncle Mu, this trip to Kunming Pool is a family-wide lake tour."

On this side of the Han Prince's residence are my mother, the Crown Prince's wife, my second brother Zhanqi, my third brother Zhanyi, my nephew's Taoist teacher, and other relatives and guards in the residence.

Uncle Mu, in preparation for this lake trip, I put the entire Kunming Lake under lockdown a day in advance.

"When we go boating on the lake, I, your nephew, will definitely not disappoint Uncle Mu." Zhu Zhanhe was clearly telling Mu Sheng that this boat trip was purely for fun, and that he had brought many family members along so that Mu Sheng would not feel burdened.

"I will follow Your Highness's arrangements." Mu Sheng's expression visibly relaxed after hearing Zhu Zhanhe's words.

"Let's go!" After Mu Sheng mounted his horse, Zhu Zhanhe took the reins from his uncle Wei Jizhong, mounted his horse, and headed towards Kunming Lake.

As evening approached, the group finally arrived at Kunming Lake, which is now Erhai Lake.

At this moment, the entire Erhai Lake was under martial law under Liu Erniu's command, practically deserted by humans or birds. Zhu Zhanhe nodded in satisfaction with Liu Erniu's work arrangements, indicating his approval.

In the blink of an eye, the group arrived at the large boat that had been prepared in advance on Erhai Lake. After exchanging greetings, everyone took their seats. Princess Wei of Han thoughtfully pulled her daughter-in-law, Xia, to her side. This was the future of her Han Prince's Mansion, and she absolutely could not afford to lose her!
"This time, my decision to organize the lake tour was made after careful consideration."

"The reason I chose to hold this event after the military exercise is to inform everyone of a very important matter for my entire Han King lineage. Or rather, a shocking secret," Zhu Zhanhe explained after everyone had settled down.

"Third brother, I told you that all the princes leave the palace at fifteen. Although you are a year younger, you are steady in your actions. I am letting you know this in advance so that you will not disappoint me," Zhu Zhanhe said to his third brother below his second brother.

"Don't worry, elder brother, Zhan'an will live up to your expectations." Zhu Zhan'an's eyes were filled with excitement after hearing his elder brother's words, but he still spoke with a firm expression.

“Uncle Mu, I know that you, like everyone else, are very curious about why my father rebelled. Today, I will show you the reasons and the confidence of my Han King lineage,” Zhu Zhanhe said to Mu Sheng, who had been serious throughout.

"Please give your orders, Your Highness," Mu Sheng said, still very serious.

"The rest of you, those who have come today include the three commanders of my three major camps in Yunnan, the guard commander of my royal palace, and other key figures of my royal palace. You are all the most important ministers of my Han royal palace."

"Come with me to the deck and see the confidence that has allowed my Han Prince's Mansion to last for ten thousand years!" Zhu Zhanhe specially selected the current core members of the Han Prince's Mansion today to let them witness the terrifying power of the alligator dragon in order to unite their hearts!

"Come with me!" Zhu Zhanhe stood up, came to his wife Xia, gently took her soft hand, and walked towards the deck of the large ship.

The rest of the people in the cabin, though looking at Zhu Zhanhe's words with surprise and uncertainty, still followed him slowly.

Outside the cabin, Uncle Wei Jizhong and Xiao Xizi had already set out two tables full of offerings, waiting expectantly for everyone's arrival.

(End of this chapter)