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

Chapter 240 My lord, has the imperial court sent reinforcements?

"General Wang, the brothers' morale is high now, let's continue our journey." Zhu Zhanhe turned around and saw a group of people behind him, all looking stunned. Even his brother-in-law, Xia Xuan, was completely dumbfounded. However, Zhu Zhanhe wasn't surprised. After all, the shock he had just experienced was only the beginning; shock would be the norm for them from now on!
"This subordinate obeys!" Hearing Zhu Zhanhe's words, Wang Jinghong slowly recovered from his dazed state. He hadn't expected the Crown Prince of Han to boost morale in such a way; this method was unconventional, too brilliant! No one could withstand such a tactic! At the same time, Wang Jinghong felt inexplicably embarrassed by his earlier misunderstanding. However, facing Zhu Zhanhe's order, Wang Jinghong instinctively accepted it respectfully.

"Messenger!" Wang Jinghong turned his head and called out loudly for the messenger to arrive.

"The flags are here!" Soon, the same messenger covered in flags appeared, jogging to the top deck. From the moment he appeared, his eyes were fixed on Zhu Zhanhe with fervent admiration, his gaze overflowing with worship.

"Keep moving forward!" Wang Jinghong wasn't surprised by the messenger's burning gaze. After all, the Crown Prince of Han had given them far too much!

If nothing unexpected happens, the Crown Prince's move not only boosted the morale of the entire navy, but also, through this combination of kindness and force, directly seized supreme control of the ocean-going fleet!

Even if land were actually distributed to everyone later, even if the amount of land they received was only half of what was mentioned earlier, countless soldiers would still rush to serve him and die for him!

Meanwhile, Zhu Zhanhe led his magnificent fleet onward toward Guangxi, while Hu Tian's 80,000-strong army, known as the 100,000-strong army, had already deployed to the Guangxi border, ready to occupy Zhen'an Prefecture, the closest town in Guangxi to Yunnan, early the next morning.

Guangxi is a place that is neither too big nor too small.

However, the news that 100,000 troops from Yunnan had been stationed outside Zhen'an Prefecture on the border was quickly relayed to the Guangxi Provincial Administration Office by carrier pigeon.

At this moment, Yin Shi, the head of the Guangxi Provincial Administration Commission and the top official of Guangxi, was extremely anxious and frustrated. Looking at the letter from Zhen'an Prefecture requesting assistance delivered by carrier pigeon, he slumped helplessly in his chair in the office, on the verge of tears. He simply didn't know who to turn to for help in Guangxi!
When Yin Shi was in power, he ranked seventh in the second class of the imperial examination in the Jia Chen year of the Yongle reign. He was granted the title of Jinshi by Emperor Taizong and was also favored by the Crown Prince at the time. He was appointed as an official in the Crown Prince's palace. After gaining experience, he was recommended by the Crown Prince and appointed as the powerful and influential Provincial Governor of Guangxi. He was truly blessed with imperial favor and honor.

It can be said that every step of his career was marked by the shadow of the former crown prince, now the deceased emperor Zhu Gaochi. This made him, who considered himself a noble scholar, never think of currying favor with rebellious figures like the Prince of Han and the Prince of Zhao.

The reality is that, as the Provincial Governor of Guangxi, the local official responsible for the lives of nearly a million people in Guangxi, he dared not make hasty conclusions! Moreover, due to the rebellions of the Prince of Han and the Prince of Zhao, the elite troops of Guangxi had already been transferred to Jinan for garrison duty, leaving only the elderly and infirm as soldiers. Furthermore, in terms of numbers, the remaining forces in Guangxi numbered less than 50,000! This was a full half the size of the 100,000 troops dispatched by the Crown Prince of Han!

It wasn't just a difference in numbers, but also in weaponry and equipment, and in the combat skills of the soldiers—a world of difference, enough to make one despair!

"Master, several officials from the yamen urgently request an audience." Just as Yin Shi was looking worried, the steward suddenly came to report that some of his colleagues were requesting an audience.

"Please come in." Yin Shi sighed inwardly. He knew who the visitors were without even asking. They were just his two deputies, the Left and Right Provincial Governors, the Provincial Surveillance Commissioner, and the Military Commander.

"My lord!" Soon, under Yin Shi's melancholy gaze, four people entered from outside the door. As soon as they entered, the four people bowed to Yin Shi.

"In these extraordinary times, there's no need for formalities. Please sit down, everyone, and let's discuss this." Looking at the four men, who also had serious expressions, Yin Shi guessed that they had received some information as well, otherwise they wouldn't have sent their brothers-in-law so quickly.

"Yes." Upon hearing Yin Shi's words, the four of them sat down in the chairs below Yin Shi without any hesitation.

"Take a look, everyone. It's a letter from Zhen'an Prefecture requesting assistance." Seeing the four people seated, Yin Shi didn't hesitate and immediately handed the letter in his hand to his Left Deputy Governor. The middle-aged man on the left didn't speak, but after reading the letter, his brows twitched. Then, with a livid expression, he passed the letter to the next Right Deputy Governor. The letter was passed around until it finally landed in the hands of the bearded Commander.

"Speak up, everyone. What are your thoughts?" Seeing that everyone had finished reading the letter, and although they all had furrowed brows, Yin Shi, as the leader, still wanted to hear the opinions of his subordinates.

"My lord, when will the imperial reinforcements arrive? With only 40,000 to 50,000 old and weak soldiers within our borders, we cannot withstand the 100,000-strong army from Yunnan!" As the military commander of Guangxi, the Guangxi Regional Military Commissioner spoke first. Moreover, he immediately hit the nail on the head! Guangxi is currently short of troops; even if it wanted to resist, it lacked the strength, let alone the ability to rescue the various prefectures and government offices within its borders.

"Commander Zhang, it takes about ten days for an urgent courier like this from Guangxi to Beijing. It has been less than twenty days since we sent our request for help."

Upon receiving the plea for help, the imperial court mobilized troops to Guangxi for rescue.

"It would be impossible to complete this in less than a month. Let us hold our ground and wait for reinforcements." At this moment, the first to speak was the Provincial Surveillance Commissioner of Guangxi, who was in charge of judicial affairs.

"Lord Liu, we have no soldiers at our disposal, how are we supposed to defend the city!" Commander Zhang looked impatient with the words of the provincial inspector beside him. It wasn't that he was impatient with his colleague, but rather that he really had no one at his disposal, and the suggestion to defend the city was really asking too much of him.

"If we hold out for a month, things will surely turn around." Inspector Liu was an official promoted by Zhu Gaochi during his time as crown prince, so he had no intention of surrendering and only wanted to rely on the fortified city to hold out for reinforcements.

"No soldiers!" Commander Zhang was in a headache when he heard that Inspector Liu wanted to hold the city for a month. He didn't have enough troops to defend the city. Even if he risked his life, it wouldn't be enough.
"My lords, please calm down." At this moment, the Right Deputy Governor, who was sitting on the left, spoke up.

"My lord, there are only four of us in the room today. I have a question to ask you truthfully." The Right Provincial Governor looked earnestly at Yin Shi, who sat in the main seat with a bitter expression, and spoke again.

"Lord Wang, please speak." Having heard his subordinate, the Right Deputy Provincial Governor, speak, Yin Shi knew the latter wouldn't utter a word. But at this moment, he had to unite all forces to protect Guangxi and its people from the ravages of war. Therefore, he had to be frank with his subordinates.

"Lord Yin, will the imperial court send reinforcements?" The Right Provincial Governor's simple words instantly lowered the atmosphere in the room to freezing point. In an instant, the eyes of the three people in the room all focused on Yin Shi, as this was the question they wanted to know.

Faced with the expectant gazes of his colleagues, Yin Shi silently closed his eyes, because he himself didn't know whether the imperial court would send reinforcements. But most likely, no reinforcements would come.

"Alas! It seems that the imperial court most likely will not send reinforcements." The Left Deputy Governor sighed upon seeing this.

"After all, the armies of the King of Han and the King of Zhao are both under the walls of Jinan. If their armies cross Jinan, they will march straight to Beijing." The Right Deputy Provincial Governor's words directly explained the most direct reason. After all, no matter how important the two provinces of Guangdong and Guangxi were, they couldn't compare to the capital! At worst, the court could recover Guangdong and Guangxi after defeating the two kings' rebellion.

But if that were to happen, what would happen to these people?
For a moment, the four people in the Guangxi Provincial Administration Office fell into deep thought.

(End of this chapter)