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

Chapter 232 The Letter of Appeal from Guangdong and Guangxi
"Originally, General Jiang, the commander of our Fifth Army Battalion, had already explored the situation in Annam. If it weren't for the court's trickery against our navy, I would have already prepared to repair and reorganize the navy during the mourning period."

Once the emperor's mourning period is over, I will order both the army and navy to launch a full-scale attack and occupy Annam.

To fulfill my promise to everyone, I will share some land with you first. This will not only fulfill my promise, but also allow the soldiers to bring their wives, children, and elderly parents over so they can live in peace.

However, things didn't go as planned. It seems we can only put this matter aside for now, take over the Guangdong and Guangxi provinces first to vent my anger, and then make other plans." Zhu Zhanhe's pre-battle mobilization was quite unique. He directly told everyone, "I originally planned to lead you to seize land from the local tyrants and distribute it to the peasants. The route was all set, and we were just waiting to set off. But due to the court's reasons, the land seizure and distribution has to be temporarily put on hold, pending further notice."

As for whether everyone wants to continue fighting the landlords and redistributing land, they'll have to wait until I resolve our internal issues with the court before making any further plans. His regretful expression only heightened everyone's tension.

"Your Highness, please rest assured, the soldiers have been waiting for your orders for a long time."

"Wherever Your Highness's sword points, we will surely arrive on horseback!" Modern people cannot imagine the profound attachment that the ancients had to their land. Zhu Zhanhe's words directly stimulated the nerves of everyone present. Even the usually calm Wang Jinghong's pupils dilated and his eyes gleamed. The chubby Qian Zhongcai even slammed his fist on the table and stood up, giving Zhu Zhanhe a loud and enthusiastic reply.

Qian Zhongcai's words represented the sentiments of everyone present, because land is everything!
"General Qian is absolutely right. Please rest assured, Your Highness, we will work with the three naval commanders as quickly as possible to complete the deployment of naval personnel and weapons. We will then take over the two Guang provinces and avenge Your Highness!" Hu Tian was also very excited. He patted his chest and assured Zhu Zhanhe that they would definitely take over the two Guang provinces as quickly as possible and avenge Zhu Zhanhe. He showed no sign of the pain of losing his soldiers.

In reality, everyone knew that Hu Tian was only eyeing the land in the future, but at this moment, no one would expose him, because it was everyone's sentiment! They, too, coveted the land!
"Erniu, with the expedition imminent, the safety of the Prince's residence is of utmost importance. You must make all the necessary preparations and not distract me."

At the same time, you will also follow General Jiang and gradually help him share some of the work of the Embroidered Uniform Guard. Taking advantage of the upcoming expedition, Zhu Zhanhe immediately arranged for Liu Erniu to be placed in the Embroidered Uniform Guard system.

"Your subordinate obeys!" Upon hearing Zhu Zhanhe's words, Liu Erniu was taken aback for a moment, then replied loudly. He knew that this was His Highness's high regard and recognition of him.

"Brother Erniu, please guide me in the future!" Jiang Xiaohu was clearly prepared for Zhu Zhanhe's move to place people in the Embroidered Uniform Guard, and he calmly accepted the arrangement. After all, he knew that he was only a latecomer to following the Crown Prince of Han, and besides, no superior had ever allowed his intelligence agency to have such absolute power.

What he didn't expect was that Zhu Zhanhe would only start sending people into the Embroidered Uniform Guard a month after he arrived in Yunnan, and only one person was sent in. However, he wouldn't have any objections to this.

"Everyone, go back and prepare. After His Majesty's mourning period ends, we will march on Guangdong and Guangxi!" Standing in the Chengyun Hall of the Han Prince's Mansion, Zhu Zhanhe waved his hand, issuing a new round of battle orders. And this time, he was prepared to take action personally!

"Yes, sir!" Immediately, everyone left Chengyun Hall and went about their own business. Even the third brother, Zhu Zhan'an, headed towards the Prince's study, which inevitably caused complaints from the many younger brothers and sisters in the Prince's mansion.

"Your Highness!" After everyone had left, Xia Yuanji turned back to Chengyun Hall. He came to Zhu Zhanhe and bowed to his son-in-law.

"Please sit down, Father-in-law." Zhu Zhanhe had guessed his father-in-law's purpose, but he was not angry. He simply asked the other party to sit down and talk.

"I also know that His Highness will not back down on this matter."

"But I still want to say that I hope Your Highness can refrain from bloodshed and have compassion for the suffering of the people." Xia Yuanji knew he couldn't persuade his son-in-law this time. Moreover, the morale of the three major camps was high and could not be ignored, so he only came to advise his son-in-law to kill less and treat the people kindly.

"Father-in-law, rest assured, as long as they do not resist, I will not start a war lightly. Even if they resist, I will only quickly attack and occupy the city, and will not engage in indiscriminate killing."

Moreover, what I need is a stable Guangdong and Guangxi, not a devastated one. After all, I still need the people to produce grain, build ships, and serve as my logistical base! Zhu Zhanhe told his father-in-law without hesitation that he had long coveted Guangdong and Guangxi, and this incident was simply an opportunity. "Your Highness is benevolent!" Xia Yuanji felt an even deeper appreciation for his son-in-law's kindness. He knew that even if his son-in-law harbored dissatisfaction with the court, he would not implicate the people, showing the qualities of a true ruler! Xia Yuanji couldn't help but praise his son-in-law in his heart.

"Your Highness, the six officials from Lima and other places have been kneeling at the Prince's residence for several days. What should be done with them?" When Hu Tian led the army back, as Zhu Zhanhe had instructed, he had also brought back the six local officials who hadn't participated in the military exercises, bound and gagged. Upon arriving at the Prince's residence, Zhu Zhanhe made them kneel there to observe mourning for the Emperor; they had been kneeling for several days now. Xia Yuanji inquired of his son-in-law about how to deal with these men.

"The original intention was to transfer them to work on ships as a form of punishment and to serve as a warning to others."

But with war imminent, we cannot be without local officials. Even if we send new people over, it would not be safe. Let them go back to their posts first.

However, my father-in-law must make it clear to them that such incidents will not be repeated. If they dare to offend the dignity of the Prince's Mansion again, I will surely kill them all! Zhu Zhanhe also knew that these people had not made any rebellious moves; they were just opportunists who wavered between the court and the Prince's Mansion.

Moreover, with war imminent, he needed a stable rear, and the men they had been handling things well locally. Therefore, Zhu Zhanhe decided to give them a slight punishment and then release them. This way, he could both stabilize the rear and demonstrate his benevolence—a win-win situation.

"As Your Highness commands!" Xia Yuanji looked at his son-in-law in surprise. He had originally thought that his son-in-law would kill these people who had offended the dignity of the Prince's Mansion in order to show his authority to everyone. However, he did not expect that his son-in-law would only punish them slightly and then let them go back to their posts.

Seeing his son-in-law's regal bearing, Xia Yuanji felt even more approval and satisfaction with him.

Immediately afterward, Xia Yuanji bid farewell to his son-in-law and hurried off to attend to government affairs and to write a letter to the Guangdong and Guangxi Provincial Administration Commission.

In the blink of an eye, the Ming Dynasty court on the other side received two letters of appeal for help, one from the Guangdong and Guangxi Provincial Administration Commission and the other from the other.

Inside the Grand Secretariat of the Ming Dynasty.

"What's going on? The Provincial Administration Commissions of Guangdong and Guangxi sent letters requesting assistance at the same time? Why is the Crown Prince of Han preparing to occupy the lands of Guangdong and Guangxi?" At this moment, Yang Shiqi, who had just returned to Beijing a few days ago, was looking at the two letters requesting assistance sent by the Provincial Administration Commissions of Guangdong and Guangxi with a bewildered expression.

The fleet has already been delivered, so why is the Crown Prince of Han still planning to occupy Guangdong and Guangxi? What went wrong? Yang Shiqi simply couldn't understand the reason.

“According to the timeline, the fleet has now been taken over by the Crown Prince of Han. Could it be that the Crown Prince of Han went back on his word after receiving the fleet?” Yang Pu, who also looked solemn, picked up Yang Shiqi’s words with a puzzled expression.

"The letter says that the Crown Prince of Han sent a message to Guangdong and Guangxi, saying that he would send troops to occupy the two provinces after the Emperor's mourning period ended, instead of occupying them directly now. There must be a reason for this. He wouldn't occupy Guangdong and Guangxi for no reason. Something must have happened to cause the Crown Prince of Han to do this."

"Besides, didn't the Crown Prince of Han already promise you that you could postpone the ship construction for the court for a year?" Yang Rong stroked his beard, analyzing the situation with a serious expression. Then, Yang Rong turned his puzzled gaze to Yang Shiqi, who was frowning beside him, and asked.

"Yes, the Crown Prince of Han promised me that once the imperial fleet arrived, he would give the imperial court a year to build new ships. And during this period, he would not occupy any land in Guangdong and Guangxi, or even any land belonging to the imperial court!" Yang Shiqi replied to Yang Rong's question with certainty.

(End of this chapter)