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

Chapter 268 Alligator Dragon Prepares to Join the Navy
"Thank you for your guidance, teacher! Your words are truly invaluable!" The old Taoist's words seemed to have opened up Zhu Zhanhe's Ren and Du meridians, instantly making Zhu Zhanhe feel refreshed and clear-headed.

To refuse a gift from Heaven is to invite disaster! Having the alligator dragon, such a powerful weapon, why hesitate? Since I don't want to cause turmoil in the Ming Dynasty, let the alligator dragon accompany the expeditionary force to wreak havoc in foreign lands. Besides, it makes perfect sense for my navy, Zhu Zhanhe, to be blessed with an alligator dragon!

"Someone come here!" Zhu Zhanhe, having figured this out, loudly called for the people outside to come in.

"Your Highness, this servant is here." Xiao Xizi, who was waiting outside the door, immediately stepped forward and entered after hearing Zhu Zhanhe's call. For some reason, upon entering Chengyun Hall, Xiao Xizi suddenly felt that the young master in front of her seemed to have become a different person, exuding an unparalleled aura of grandeur.

The old Taoist priest was the most qualified to speak on this point. Previously, Zhu Zhanhe possessed only a powerful dragon aura and unparalleled domineering presence, but lacked the majestic imperial bearing. But now, the enlightened Zhu Zhanhe had made up for his shortcomings; his supreme domineering aura was intertwined with a profound royal aura, coupled with the rich dragon aura. The current Zhu Zhanhe was, in the old Taoist priest's eyes, the perfect, peerless emperor!

"Contact your uncle; he's rested long enough. Have Erniu send the Imperial Guards to contact the navy and have your uncle take Tuolong to join the navy and accompany them on their missions!"
"How can the navy of my Han Prince's Mansion be an auxiliary force to the army!" Zhu Zhanhe directly gave orders to Xiao Xizi, instructing his uncle Wei Jizhong to bring Tuolong into the navy and participate in the expansion of foreign territories.

"Yes!" Upon hearing the young master's words, Xiao Xizi's heart skipped a beat, and he quickly agreed. Although he had wanted to recruit Tuolong into the Navy several times before to improve its combat power, he had never dared to speak up. He never expected that the old Taoist priest could change the young master's mind with just a few words. Truly worthy of being called an old immortal!

"At the same time, have the Embroidered Uniform Guard inform Hu Tian and the army about this news." After thinking for a moment, Zhu Zhanhe decided to inform the army as well, as a way to put some pressure on them.

"Yes!" Xiao Xizi always agreed to Zhu Zhanhe's orders without hesitation. Although he didn't quite understand why the army should be informed of this news, he still agreed without question.

"Go downstairs." Zhu Zhanhe waved his hand, telling Xiao Xizi to hurry up and get to work.

"This servant takes her leave." Upon seeing the young master's gesture, Xiao Xizi wisely withdrew.

"Teacher, do you think it would be more convincing if I brought this scripture as the alligator dragon?" Looking at the not-so-thick scripture in his hand, Zhu Zhanhe suddenly had a very interesting idea.

“Since ancient times, gold has been considered immortal, and the crocodile dragon protecting the golden scripture is a beautiful story.” The old Taoist was momentarily stunned with surprise after hearing Zhu Zhanhe’s words. However, he quickly recovered, stroked his white beard, squinted his eyes and pondered for a moment before making a decision.

"What the teacher says makes sense." Zhu Zhanhe was very satisfied with the old Taoist's advice and adopted it directly.

"I will personally oversee the progress of this matter. Once the Golden Sutra is completed, then I will send the Crocodile Dragon on its way."

"At the same time, I will select at least twenty-five elite disciples as soon as possible to escort the Golden Scripture to Annam." The old Taoist was also a decisive person. After receiving Zhu Zhanhe's confirmation, he decided on his next action plan. The old Taoist snatched the scripture from Zhu Zhanhe's hand, finished speaking to Zhu Zhanhe, and then turned and left.

“Teacher, I’ll ask the people from the Imperial Workshop of the Prince’s Palace to assist me.” Zhu Zhanhe originally wanted the Imperial Workshop of the Prince’s Palace, which was in charge of the management and manufacturing of the gold scriptures, to help him. However, the old Taoist priest obviously had his own plans and interrupted Zhu Zhanhe before he could finish speaking.

"No need. I'm still capable of handling such a small skill."

"We'll be departing in two days. Your RNG Wangfu people, get ready." Before Zhu Zhanhe could finish speaking, the old Taoist priest went out, adding before he left that he should quickly arrange the personnel for the trip.

Faced with this, Zhu Zhanhe could only watch the decisive old Taoist priest walk away with brisk steps, and helplessly twitched the corner of his mouth.

"Your Highness, General Liu and Uncle have arrived." The old Taoist priest had just left when Xiao Xizi quickly brought people in, leaving Zhu Zhanhe no time to even have a cup of tea.

"Come in." Faced with this situation, Zhu Zhanhe had no choice but to accept his fate. After all, he had said before that he wouldn't even be a dog if he were in a position of power. Now that he had become a leader, he could only endure this kind of suffering.

"Your Highness!"

"Your Highness!" Liu Erniu and Wei Jizhong entered and respectfully bowed to Zhu Zhanhe, showing the proper respect due to a subject to a ruler. "Rise, we have important matters to discuss." Zhu Zhanhe looked at his uncle and the commander of the guards and gestured for them to rise.

"Thank you, Your Highness!" After Wei Jizhong, Liu Erniu, and the others stood up, they respectfully thanked Zhu Zhanhe and bowed.

"Xiao Xizi, send ten catties of gold to the Taoist temple, and also dispatch two skilled craftsmen from the Heavenly Crafts Bureau." Looking at the respectful people in front of him, Zhu Zhanhe thought of the departed old Taoist priest and quickly arranged for Xiao Xizi to continue working.

"Yes." After hearing the order, Xiao Xizi turned around and went back to work.

"The progress in Annam is good, but the navy is progressing slower than the army. I have decided to send Tuolong to join the navy and participate in all subsequent development efforts."

So now, it's time for Uncle to be involved in the entire development process." Zhu Zhanhe didn't start with any sentimentality; he went straight to the point and told his uncle, Wei Jizhong, that it was time for him to step up and get to work.

"Yes." Wei Jizhong agreed to his nephew's arrangement without any hesitation.

“Uncle will be involved with the navy for a long time going forward, so you can find a young deputy to help share the burden.” Zhu Zhanhe knew that the navy would be the biggest asset in the upcoming expansion, and worried that his uncle wouldn't be able to handle it all, he wanted him to find a helper. However, Zhu Zhanhe didn't specify anyone; he wanted his uncle to find someone reliable and trustworthy. In reality, Zhu Zhanhe wanted his uncle to bring one or more of his sons to serve the Tuolong.

"Okay." It's unclear whether Wei Jizhong understood Zhu Zhanhe's hint, but Wei Jizhong readily agreed.

"Erniu." After seeing his uncle agree, Zhu Zhanhe didn't say anything more, but just looked at Liu Erniu beside him.

"Your Highness." Liu Erniu bowed readily in response to Zhu Zhanhe's call.

"This time, you must send someone to escort Tuolong and your uncle to the Navy. Send the Imperial Guards to contact the Navy in advance and inform the Army of this." Zhu Zhanhe assigned Liu Erniu his tasks.

"As you command." Liu Erniu did not hesitate. After all, His Highness the Crown Prince sending Tuolong meant that he was going to expand the territory with all his might, and he fully supported this. After all, expansion meant that land would be distributed. Although the land they received if they stayed behind was less, it was safer! Why not get land just by sitting at home?

"At the same time, the teams dispatched to the army and navy will also escort the two teams of Taoist priests to Annam respectively." Zhu Zhanhe continued to arrange the relevant matters.

"Yes, sir." Although Liu Erniu didn't know why he needed to bring a Taoist priest into a battle, he still firmly agreed.

"We're tentatively scheduled to depart the day after tomorrow. Go back and prepare." After finishing his business, Zhu Zhanhe dismissed them.

"I will retire at the end."

"This humble official takes his leave." After hearing Zhu Zhanhe's words, Liu Erniu and Wei Jizhong turned around and left without hesitation.

Zhu Zhanhe watched the two leave and breathed a sigh of relief. He glanced at the sun outside and realized it was already past noon; he hadn't even had lunch yet. So, having not eaten properly the night before, Zhu Zhanhe decided to have some food served and prepare a proper meal.

But things often don't go as planned, especially after he decided to expand with all his might, things became complicated. Moreover, the basic framework of his palace wasn't even fully established yet.

(End of this chapter)