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

Chapter 383 New Year's Gift 2
What intrigued Zhu Zhanhe was what exactly Liang Dayu had given as a New Year's gift that made Xiao Xizi hesitate and almost afraid to accept it.

"Your Highness, besides sending some normal gifts, Lord Liang also sent over women raised by merchants from the Guangdong and Guangxi regions. There are dozens of them!"

"If I accept both the person and the gifts, I'm afraid I won't be able to get along with the Princess." Xiao Xizi was almost crying with grievance. The main reason he was hesitant to accept Liang Dayu's gifts was that, in addition to the normal gifts, Liang Dayu had also sent dozens of beautiful women from Guangdong and Guangxi!

The beauties Liang Dayu sent over were truly a diverse array of types—plump, mature, delicate, slender, and more! Even Xiao Xizi, a mere eunuch, blushed at the sight of them! Xiao Xizi was certain that his lord would be captivated and charmed by those beauties!

But this was also Xiao Xizi's main concern! What if his prince accepted these beauties as his concubines? Would the princess be angry? After all, there were dozens of women! Xiao Xizi didn't want to be scolded by Sister Xiao Zhi again! Where would he put his face as the chief eunuch of the prince's mansion then?

"Let the Princess handle the gifts from Liang Dayu as well!" Hearing Xiao Xizi's words, Zhu Zhanhe understood her predicament. However, Zhu Zhanhe was not afraid of his wife, and he immediately said that he would leave both the gifts and Liang Dayu to the Princess!

As for what will happen to the future princess, Zhu Zhanhe said that he is physically strong, and when the princess can't keep up after working hard at night, she will definitely kneel down and beg for mercy, and then go to find helpers! At that time, all those beautiful women will be his favorites!
"Yes!" Seeing that the prince had entrusted everything to the princess, Xiao Xizi breathed a sigh of relief. As long as he, a mere eunuch, wasn't mistreated, that was fine!

In the blink of an eye, Zhu Zhanhe arrived at Chengyun Hall. At that moment, a group of officials were anxiously waiting for their prince!

"Greetings, Your Highness!!" Zhu Zhanhe sat on the high seat in Chengyun Hall, receiving the kowtows of the officials of the Prince's Palace.

"Rise!" Looking at the kneeling officials, Zhu Zhanhe raised his hand, ordering everyone to stand. He, Zhu Zhanhe, sat in the main seat based on his power, not on empty gestures like kneeling!

"Thank you, Your Highness!" Upon hearing Zhu Zhanhe's voice, the officials immediately rose to their feet. And all the officials who stood up looked at Zhu Zhanhe with boundless admiration and fervor!

It's snowing outside, and the New Year is just around the corner.

I heard that someone has already sent me a New Year's gift!

Then I'll accept it without hesitation!
"After all, you all received the New Year's gifts I gave you, right?" Zhu Zhanhe sat on the main seat of the high platform with a cheerful smile, speaking as if he were chatting and laughing with his subordinates.

"The New Year's gift that the Prince gave to everyone is an incredible surprise!"

We are deeply grateful!

"Here, we, your humble servants, once again express our gratitude to Your Highness for your great favor!" Seeing Zhu Zhanhe's beaming words, Xia Yuanji knew that his son-in-law was in a very good mood. Therefore, Xia Yuanji stepped forward first to express his thanks.

After all, the New Year's gifts that Zhu Zhanhe gave to everyone were truly amazing!
Basically, every official currently appearing in the Chengyun Hall will receive a reward of no less than two thousand mu of land! In fact, high-ranking cabinet officials like Xia Yuanji will receive nearly twenty thousand mu of land as a reward!

Such generous New Year's gifts were sure to tempt all the officials present!

Moreover, this kind of reward isn't just a one-time event. As long as the Prince's Mansion continues its expansion, these people will receive similar rewards every year! How could everyone not be excited by such a generous reward!
"We thank Your Highness for your great kindness!"
"Long live the Prince! Long live the Prince! Long live the Prince!" As Xia Yuanji's voice fell, all the officials in Chengyun Hall knelt down, expressing their gratitude to Zhu Zhanhe. To be honest, their gratitude came from the bottom of their hearts. After all, distributing land was the greatest benefit in the world!
"Okay, okay."

Get up, everyone.

"Let's get down to business." Looking at the excited officials, Zhu Zhanhe wasn't surprised. After all, most of these officials under Zhu Zhanhe were from humble backgrounds. They had never seen so much land bestowed as rewards! This single reward could lift them out of poverty! "Thank you, Your Highness!" The officials respectfully rose again, facing the imposing Prince Han on the high platform. All the officials eagerly awaited the Prince's next move. After all, only through war could they receive land rewards!

"Let's first talk about the matters of overseas expansion after the New Year."

"How are the Ministry of War's post-New Year expansion strategy preparations going?" After all, the New Year was approaching, so Zhu Zhanhe decided to finalize the post-New Year military strategy before the end of the year! Moreover, seeing the eager eyes of the officials, Zhu Zhanhe did not refuse them, but directly shifted the topic to post-New Year expansion!

"Your Highness, after the New Year, our royal family's strategic goals are Zhenla, Lan Xang, and Siam."

The Ministry of War discussed the matter and decided to divide the Prince's army into land and sea forces to launch separate offensives.

The navy's main attack was on Zhenla;

The army's main attack is on Nanzhang;

Finally, after Zhenla and Lan Xang were captured, the army and navy launched a joint attack on Siam.

By the end of next decade, the entire Indochina Peninsula will be incorporated into the Prince's territory! Mu Sheng's strategy is both conservative and simple. The Prince's Palace now has a large army and many generals, as well as the powerful navy.

Since they have superior military strength, they should divide their forces to first occupy Zhenla and Lan Xang. After Zhenla and Lan Xang are captured, the combined land and sea forces will then attack Siam simultaneously, leaving Siam unable to attend to both ends. In this way, the Han King's Palace will surely conquer the entire Indochina Peninsula in one fell swoop!

"Good, a very good strategy."

However, the navy has now been divided into two, and only one navy can attack at a time;
"The other naval force has other uses for me; I wonder if that will delay the navy's progress?!" Zhu Zhanhe didn't object to Mu Sheng's conservative strategy. Although Mu Sheng's strategy was simple, when strength is sufficient, the simpler the strategy, the harder it is to resist!
What Zhu Zhanhe needed was not just occupation, but also the process of governance after occupation!

Therefore, Zhu Zhanhe was very satisfied with Mu Sheng's progress.

Of course, Zhu Zhanhe also clearly told Mu Sheng that only one of the two naval vessels could go on the expedition, and the other one would serve other purposes for the Prince's Palace.

Upon hearing Zhu Zhanhe's words, Liang Dayu, standing in the crowd, almost jumped out of his skin with excitement. After all, an extra fleet meant over four hundred warships! He didn't ask for much more; just a few dozen warships would be enough for his ocean-going trading fleet to set sail!
"Your Highness, one ocean-going fleet is enough!" Mu Sheng seemed to have expected Zhu Zhanhe's statement and gave a direct affirmative answer.

"Very good!" Zhu Zhanhe was also very satisfied with Mu Sheng's preparations.

"Are there enough firearms and ammunition in the Guangdong and Guangxi regions?" Seeing that Mu Sheng had no problem, Zhu Zhanhe immediately turned his attention to the Guangdong and Guangxi Provincial Administration Commission.

"Your Highness, the lands of Guangdong and Guangxi are well prepared with ammunition, gunpowder, cotton clothing, armor, weapons, and medicine!"

"Please rest assured, Your Highness!" Following Zhu Zhanhe's words, a robust, white-bearded old man stepped forward. Zhu Zhanhe recognized him; this man was the Provincial Treasurer of Guangdong! The man spoke with great conviction!
"Oh? You're well prepared?" Zhu Zhanhe was very curious. Where did this old man get the confidence to say that he was well prepared and could supply the army with the weapons and ammunition needed?

(End of this chapter)