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

Chapter 244 Confident Yin Shi and Inspector Liu
"Your Highness, the Provincial Governor of Guangxi, Lord Yin, and the Provincial Surveillance Commissioner, Lord Liu, request an audience." Outside the cabin, Xiao Xizi led Yin Shi and Provincial Surveillance Commissioner Liu to the cabin, but instead of leading them directly into the cabin, he stood at the doorway and first announced their arrival to Zhu Zhanhe inside the cabin.

"Come in!" Zhu Zhanhe readily agreed to Xiao Xizi's announcement and told him to bring his people in.

After all, Zhu Zhanhe understood Xiao Xizi's little scheme. Xiao Xizi intended to give the two Guangxi officials a little warning before they entered, hoping to make them more respectful and reserved. Zhu Zhanhe didn't stop him; on the contrary, he thought Xiao Xizi truly possessed the mind of a close eunuch, understanding his master's intentions and subtly offering appropriate support—all very cleverly!

"Yes!" Upon hearing Zhu Zhanhe's voice, Xiao Xizi responded respectfully. Then, Xiao Xizi turned around and looked at the two people behind him.

“The young master has agreed to let us in. Please come in with me, gentlemen.” Xiao Xizi turned around with a smile and said to Yin Shi and Liu Ancha Shi, who were slightly reserved, confused and dazed.

"Thank you for informing me, Your Excellency!" Yin Shi, as the Provincial Treasurer, reacted quickly. Although he was somewhat dissatisfied with Xiao Xizi's actions and noticed the displeased expression on his colleague Liu, the Provincial Surveillance Commissioner, Yin Shi could only choose to endure it, as the situation was beyond his control. They were under someone else's roof, there to ask for help, so they had to adopt the attitude of someone seeking help. Therefore, he firmly held down his somewhat agitated colleague and shook his head resolutely.

"Your Highness, the person has been brought." After entering, Xiao Xizi respectfully reported to Zhu Zhanhe, and then, following Zhu Zhanhe's gesture, quietly stood aside to serve.

"Yin Shi, the Provincial Governor of Guangxi, pays his respects to His Highness the Crown Prince of Han!"

"Liu Qingyan, the Provincial Surveillance Commissioner of Guangxi, pays his respects to His Highness the Crown Prince of Han!" Upon entering the cabin, Yin Shi, the Provincial Administration Commissioner of Guangxi, and Liu Qingyan, the Provincial Surveillance Commissioner, knelt directly on the deck and kowtowed to Zhu Zhanhe. Although Liu Qingyan was unwilling, for the sake of the millions of people in Guangxi, he suppressed his dissatisfaction and followed Yin Shi in kneeling respectfully before Zhu Zhanhe.

"Please rise, gentlemen." Zhu Zhanhe put down his teacup and smiled as he asked the two men to get up. However, he only said it and did not even raise his hand to ask them to get up. He just stared blankly at Yin Shi and the other man and slowly climbed up from the deck.

"Thank you, Your Highness!" Yin Shi, as the Provincial Governor, clearly sensed the Han Crown Prince's mockery and dissatisfaction towards them, but he endured it and slowly got up with his colleagues. After they got up, they stood respectfully, letting the Han Crown Prince scrutinize them from head to toe.

"In the dead of night, instead of enjoying the blessings at your official residence, what brings you two gentlemen to my dilapidated boat?" Zhu Zhanhe picked up his teacup again, his face full of doubt as he asked Yin Shi and the other man. He even made a point of saying that his boat was a dilapidated boat, and he said it very heavily.

"Why does Your Highness ask a question you already know the answer to!" Seeing that the Crown Prince of Han had been disrespectful and teasing the two of them since they hadn't even entered the door, Inspector Liu instantly lost his temper. So he glared at Zhu Zhanhe and retorted angrily.

"Lord Liu!" While Inspector Liu was having a good time, Provincial Treasurer Yin Shi was filled with anxiety. They had come to mediate, but wasn't he afraid of escalating the situation by confronting the official in such a way? What if the official attacked the city in a fit of anger? So, in his haste, Yin Shi could only whisper a reprimand to Inspector Liu.

In an instant, Inspector Liu also came to his senses. They had come to sue for peace, and had even offended the leader of the enemy. What were they going to do now? At this moment, Inspector Liu also regretted his impulsiveness.

"Alright, gentlemen, please don't be in such a hurry. Let's talk things out slowly. The night is long." Seeing the awkward silence in the cabin, Zhu Zhanhe spoke with a smile to ease the tension.

"Guards, bring seats! Serve tea!" At this moment, Zhu Zhanhe displayed the demeanor of a member of the royal family. He did not mind the barbed words of Inspector Liu, but instead greeted the two men with a smile and offered them seats and tea.

"Yes!" Xiao Xizi immediately agreed after hearing Zhu Zhanhe's arrangement.

Then, Xiao Xizi waved his hand, and several eunuchs immediately came over carrying stools, small tea tables, and teacups. Moreover, the eunuchs were very observant and arranged everything directly opposite Zhu Zhanhe.

"Thank you for the reward, Your Highness!" Seeing that the Crown Prince of Han was not angry or annoyed by the barbed words of his colleague, Yin Shi breathed a long sigh of relief and thanked Zhu Zhanhe gratefully. On the other side, Inspector Liu also breathed a long sigh of relief and bowed respectfully to Zhu Zhanhe to express his apology. At this moment, the two men had a preliminary change in their impression of Zhu Zhanhe. From the moment he entered until now, the Crown Prince of Han's demeanor, although somewhat rude, still possessed the air of a royal descendant. Perhaps they could have a proper talk! At this moment, Yin Shi and Inspector Liu exchanged a glance, both seeing joy in each other's eyes.

"Your Highness! I have a question for you. I wonder if Your Highness would be so kind as to answer it?" After taking a sip of tea, Yin Shi slowly put down his teacup, stood up, and bowed to Zhu Zhanhe, indicating that he had finished his tea and it was time to discuss business. Liu, the Inspector General, followed suit, putting down his teacup and bowing as well.

"Lord Yin, please speak freely. I, the young master, will tell you everything I know!" Seeing that the other party had put down his teacup and started to speak, Zhu Zhanhe knew that the important matter had begun. He then gestured for the other party to speak freely.

"Thank you, Your Highness!" Yin Shi was taken aback by Zhu Zhanhe's frank attitude, then bowed again.

"This humble official would like to ask Your Highness, is there anything in Guangxi that has offended you?"
Or perhaps we've offended the Prince of Han's residence?
"Or should we offend Yunnan?" Yin Shi asked Zhu Zhanhe with a serious expression.

"No!" Zhu Zhanhe answered Yin Shi's question very decisively.

"Then may I ask Your Highness why you want to conquer my Guangxi territory?"
Today, Your Highness has even dispatched large armies by land and sea to intimidate the border?

Even more so, before His Highness the Crown Prince set out with his troops, he specifically wrote a letter in advance to inform us that he intended to attack us.

"I wonder why this is?" Yin Shi finally asked the crucial question with a face full of doubt. Liu, the provincial inspector, was also staring intently at Zhu Zhanhe, wanting to know the specific reason for the matter.

"This matter involves a wide range of issues, and the reasons are quite complicated."

"Do you two gentlemen have the time and would like to listen to my explanation?" Facing the eager desire for knowledge on Yin Shi and the other man's faces, Zhu Zhanhe took a sip of tea and said to them with a smile.

"Your Highness, please speak freely!" Inspector Liu's impatience erupted again. He looked at Zhu Zhanhe anxiously and asked, his eyes full of worry.

"Please tell me, Your Highness!" Yin Shi was also very anxious at this moment, because they could finally get to the bottom of the matter. Only by finding the cause of the problem could they find a solution!
They firmly believe that once they find the cause of the problem, they will definitely find a solution!

"You two gentlemen are looking for the reason why I, the young master, have dispatched troops, so that you can find a way to resolve this matter!" Zhu Zhanhe saw through their intentions at a glance, seemingly unconcerned about their eagerness, and said with a smile.

"Please have mercy, Your Highness!" Yin Shi did not refute Zhu Zhanhe's words, but instead bowed deeply to him, tacitly agreeing with Zhu Zhanhe's statement. The Provincial Inspector Liu, standing nearby, also bowed respectfully.

"I guarantee that as long as you two gentlemen, and even the entire Guangdong and Guangxi region, can resolve my problem, I will immediately withdraw my troops and assure you that I will never invade again!" Zhu Zhanhe said to Yin Shi and Inspector Liu with a smile.

Upon hearing Zhu Zhanhe's words, Yin Shi and Inspector Liu were momentarily stunned, and a strange unease and deep fear welled up in their hearts.

(End of this chapter)