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

Chapter 243 Your Highness, officials from Guangxi request an audience!
"Lord Zhang, please take care of yourself!" Governor Ji Zuo stepped forward as well, sighing as he gently patted Commander Zhang's burly shoulder. He then ignored Commander Zhang's complicated expression and turned to leave.

"My lords, please take care!" After only a moment of stunned silence, when Commander Zhang came to his senses, he found that his four colleagues had all left, leaving him alone to manage the vast Provincial Administration Office. In a daze, Commander Zhang bowed deeply in the direction of the empty building, his eyes filled with complex emotions as he watched his colleagues depart.
Meanwhile, Zhu Zhanhe's ocean-going fleet had also arrived outside Fangcheng Port in Guangxi. The magnificent two hundred-plus ships completely covered the sea outside Fangcheng Port. In an instant, countless ships fled, and countless civilians fled in terror.

However, even though Fangchenggang was in chaos, Zhu Zhanhe did not order the naval soldiers to launch an attack directly. Instead, he ordered the entire army to remain on the ships and await orders. Although everyone was puzzled by this, they still instinctively obeyed the order.

"Do you all know why I didn't launch an attack immediately, but instead ordered the entire army to prepare for battle?" Soon, the moonlight was high in the sky. In the cabin of the main naval ship in Fangchenggang, Zhu Zhanhe called Wang Jinghong, Xiao Xizi, Xia Xuan and a few others together. While eating a special naval dinner, they chatted casually. Of course, it was the kind of casual chat where Zhu Zhanhe asked questions and they answered.

"Your Highness, I think Your Highness is planning to launch a simultaneous attack by our navy and army early tomorrow morning! This will keep the enemy busy from both ends, allowing us to maximize our advantages and reduce our casualties." In response to Zhu Zhanhe's question, Xiao Xizi readily put down his chopsticks, casually wiped his mouth, and eagerly shared his insights with Zhu Zhanhe.

“Xiao Xizi is right, that is indeed one reason.” Zhu Zhanhe nodded in agreement with Xiao Xizi’s answer, giving her full affirmation. This recognition immediately filled Xiao Xizi with joy.

Next, Zhu Zhanhe turned his gaze to Wang Jinghong.

"Your Highness, I believe that Your Highness intends to use the intimidation of our army to create panic among the soldiers and civilians in various towns and cities of Guangxi in advance, so that it will be easier for our army to attack the cities!"
"Of course, I think Your Highness is also giving the innocent people time to escape, so that the city's inhabitants won't be harmed because of this battle." Wang Jinghong saw Zhu Zhanhe turn his gaze over, and respectfully put down his chopsticks, offering his analysis and answer from a professional military perspective, while also giving a little flattery.

“General Wang is right. My actions were indeed intended to reduce casualties among the city’s inhabitants. After all, I don’t want a Guangxi that has been ravaged.” Zhu Zhanhe’s eyes lit up at Wang Jinghong’s answer, and he readily agreed.

After all, Zhu Zhanhe did indeed intend to take over the Guangdong and Guangxi regions with minimal casualties. Because after taking them, he needed to make the people of Guangdong and Guangxi pay taxes and build ships for him! If the city walls were destroyed in battle and civilians were killed, that would be a loss for him alone!
"What does Commander Xia think?" After confirming Wang Jinghong's answer, Zhu Zhanhe turned his gaze to his brother-in-law, Xia Xuan, wanting to know how his brother-in-law would answer his question.

"Your Highness, I believe you are waiting for someone!" Xia Xuan knew he couldn't avoid his brother-in-law's direct question, so he simply gave his answer without hesitation.

"Tell me in detail!" Upon hearing his brother-in-law's reply, Zhu Zhanhe paused, his chopsticks barely moving. His eyes lit up, and he couldn't help but show a look of surprise. At the same time, he secretly admired his brother-in-law, thinking: "My brother-in-law truly lives up to his father-in-law Xia Yuanji's reputation as his carefully groomed successor; he's genuinely clever and quick-witted."

"In response to Your Highness, I believe that the reason Your Highness ordered my army and navy to garrison first instead of launching an attack immediately is not only due to the reasons mentioned by Commanders Wang and Zhu, but also because Your Highness is waiting for the Provincial Governor and other officials from Guangxi to come and negotiate peace with you!"
"Your Highness intends to rely on the military might of my Yunnan army and navy to intimidate Guangxi and the two Guang provinces, so that you can take Guangxi and even the two Guang provinces without bloodshed!" Xia Xuan said his guess with a serious expression.

"Well said!" Zhu Zhanhe highly praised his brother-in-law's answer.

In reality, Zhu Zhanhe truly harbored this idea of ​​gaining something for nothing! He planned to intimidate the people and military of Guangxi with force, and use psychological tactics to frighten Guangxi officials, then take Guangxi without bloodshed. He even intended to leverage the momentum of conquering Guangxi to directly seize Guangdong! To smoothly and bloodlessly take over Guangdong and Guangxi, he first needed to instill in the officials of both regions the feeling that he was invincible, thereby gaining their approval. Only with the complete acceptance of these officials could Zhu Zhanhe truly occupy the land and its people. Otherwise, the so-called occupation would merely be a literal statement.

Therefore, Zhu Zhanhe was very satisfied that his brother-in-law could guess his thoughts!

Seemingly to verify Xia Xuan's statement, Zhu Zhanhe was woken up from his sleep around 1 or 2 a.m.

"Your Highness, the Guangxi Provincial Governor Yin Shi and the Guangxi Provincial Surveillance Commissioner Liu request an audience! We beg you to grant us an audience!" In the early hours of the morning, Zhu Zhanhe was sound asleep when he was suddenly awakened by Xiao Xizi.

"Oh? He really came!?" Zhu Zhanhe opened his eyes with surprise upon hearing Xiao Xizi's voice, but what he saw first was Xiao Xizi's adoring gaze.

"Yes, Your Highness is incredibly astute! The Guangxi Provincial Governor, Lord Yin Shi, and the Guangxi Provincial Surveillance Commissioner, Lord Liu, arrived overnight with only a dozen guards and are now waiting for Your Highness at the ferry." Xiao Xizi quickly helped Zhu Zhanhe dress while rapidly reporting more details, his eyes filled with deep admiration for Zhu Zhanhe: The Guangxi officials really did come to see Your Highness! Your Highness is truly a visionary; no wonder Your Highness has a powerful protector!
Xiao Xizi could tell that his prince also wanted to meet the two Guangxi officials who were requesting an audience outside the dock, so he quickly helped Zhu Zhanhe get dressed.

"Then please invite them in. Otherwise people will say that I, as the host, don't know how to treat guests." Soon, Zhu Zhanhe put on a magnificent robe symbolizing his status as a prince and headed towards the main ship's reception room.

At the same time, Zhu Zhanhe was very hospitable, asking Xiao Xizi to invite the Guangxi Provincial Governor and Provincial Surveillance Commissioner to the ship as if he were already the master of the two provinces and inviting guests to his home.

"Yes!" Xiao Xizi was taken aback when he heard Zhu Zhanhe's words, but he quickly realized what was going on and ran off. After all, he was representing His Highness the Crown Prince and was there to greet the two officials from Guangxi!

Your Highness!
"Your Highness!" When Zhu Zhanhe arrived at the reception room, he found that his brother-in-law Xia Xuan and Wang Jinghong were already waiting for him inside. Upon seeing Zhu Zhanhe, the two of them respectfully stepped forward and bowed.

"It's the middle of the night, no need for formalities. Please sit down and we'll wait for our guests." Zhu Zhanhe gestured to his brother-in-law and Wang Jinghong not to stand on ceremony, as he still felt a little embarrassed to wake them up in the middle of the night.

"Thank you, Your Highness!" Wang Jinghong and Xia Xuan didn't stand on ceremony. After bowing to Zhu Zhanhe to express their gratitude, they sat down and waited for him. After all, they were quite tired from disturbing their sleep in the middle of the night. He wasn't the kind of person to be harsh on his subordinates!
The three of them didn't have to wait long before Xiao Xizi returned with his men. At least Zhu Zhanhe's cup of hot tea was still steaming and unfinished.

(End of this chapter)