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

Chapter 434 Dependent Lands
After a moment of silence in the Hall of Supreme Harmony, Zhu Zhanhe suddenly spoke again.

"Yu'er!"
"Send someone to summon your second brother, third brother, and Grandpa Mu." After a moment of contemplation with his eyes closed, Emperor Longwu Zhu Zhanhe suddenly opened them, his eyes flashing with a sharp light, and said to his son who was standing beside him.

"Yes!" Upon hearing his father's words, Zhu Qiyu's heart skipped a beat! He knew that his father must have guessed his thoughts! Immediately, Zhu Qiyu dared not delay and turned around and quickly left the Taihe Hall.

Watching his son's quick departure, Zhu Zhanhe could only sigh inwardly. His son had grown up and had his own ideas now.

However, Zhu Zhanhe did not object to his son having his own ideas! In fact, as long as Zhu Qiyu could maintain harmony among the brothers, or as long as Zhu Qiyu could find good homes for his younger brothers, Zhu Zhanhe would not stop Zhu Qiyu from suppressing his brothers in a harmless way!

After all, the struggle for the throne is never simply a matter of sitting on the throne; it also requires sufficiently forceful means!
Soon after Zhu Qiyu left the main hall, a figure strode swiftly into the room. Following closely behind this figure was Xiao Xizi, who, with keen insight, immediately closed the doors of the Hall of Supreme Harmony!

"What happened?!" After entering the Taihe Hall, the Iron-Faced General, whose face was covered with iron, asked his son, who was sitting on the high seat, what had happened!
Clearly, at this moment, the Iron-Faced General had already learned of his second son's death from Xiao Xizi!

"Father, my second brother has always wanted to expand into Korea, and the two armies have been locked in a stalemate on Korean soil for many years."

However, the rebellious forces within the Ryukyu Islands, which were part of the second brother's domain, could not be completely eradicated.

"This time, while fighting against them in Korea, my second brother was ambushed and killed by a poisoned arrow by rebel forces in the Ryukyu Islands in alliance with the Korean army!" Looking at his father, who was anxious as soon as he entered the room, Zhu Zhanhe still looked heavy-hearted and softly recounted the events surrounding his second brother's death.

"Smack!" After hearing his son's words, Zhu Gaoxu angrily ripped off the iron mask from his face and slammed it to the ground.

"Where are the army medical officers?!"
Where are the prince's guards?!
Damn it! Damn it!

"Useless, a bunch of useless trash!" After hearing Zhu Zhanhe's brief description of what had happened, Zhu Gaoxu was so angry that his blood was boiling! He angrily shook his head full of white hair, which was almost covering his head, and roared loudly to vent his grief and indignation!
That was Zhu Gaochi's son! Although Zhu Zhanqi was not the eldest son, he was brave in battle and quick-witted! It could be said that Zhu Zhanqi was the son most like his own! Without a doubt!

But this son who looked most like him has now died mysteriously in that tiny place called North Korea? It's utterly absurd!

"What are you going to do?" Zhu Gaoxu, now in his true form, gasped for breath, his eyes contorted with rage as he glared at his eldest son. Clearly, Zhu Gaoxu was now intent on killing him!
"Your Majesty!"

"Your Highness, Second Prince, Third Prince, and Grand Secretary Mu, are here to receive an audience by imperial decree." At this moment, before Zhu Zhanhe could respond to Zhu Gaoxu's question, Xiao Xizi's voice suddenly came from outside the door announcing the arrival.

"Huh~??" Upon hearing Xiao Xizi's voice, Zhu Gaoxu's originally furious face froze for a moment. However, he quickly realized what was happening.

For a moment, Zhu Gaochi stared in astonishment at his son sitting on the high platform. Only then did Zhu Gaochi realize that his eldest son had already devised a countermeasure against the murder of the Dragon Kingdom's prince by Joseon! Furthermore, he had already made the choice most beneficial to the court!

Looking at his steady and imposing son, Zhu Gaoxu silently thought to himself: My son has really grown up. He is truly a dragon soaring in the sky, capable of turning the clouds and rain upside down!

"Come in!" After a moment of surprise, Zhu Gaoxu calmed down the chaotic emotions on his face. Then, instead of picking up the black mask from the ground and putting it back on, Zhu Gaoxu calmly called out to the door.

"Creak~!" As soon as Zhu Gaoxu finished speaking, there was a faint sound of a door bolt clicking, followed by a series of footsteps getting closer and closer.

"Your subjects, Zhu Qiyu, Zhu Qihao, and Zhu Qihui, pay their respects to Father Emperor!" Upon entering, led by the eldest prince Zhu Qiyu, the second prince Zhu Qihao and the third prince Zhu Qihui followed behind their elder brother, respectfully kneeling before their father on the dragon throne. "Your subject, Mu Sheng, pays his respects to Your Majesty!" Upon entering, Mu Sheng immediately saw the white-haired, iron-faced general. However, Mu Sheng didn't pay much attention to him, and still respectfully knelt and bowed to Emperor Longwu, Zhu Zhanhe, on the high platform.

"Rise!" Zhu Zhanhe raised his hand and told his three sons and Mu Sheng to stand up.

Thank you, Father Emperor!
"Thank you, Your Majesty!" After Mu Sheng and the other three stood up, they still respectfully thanked Zhu Zhanhe.

However, Mu Sheng quickly looked as if he had seen a ghost after getting up. Because Mu Sheng discovered that the Iron-Faced General wasn't wearing his iron mask today! He had actually shown his face in the Hall of Supreme Harmony!
In a moment of confusion, Mu Sheng was momentarily stunned!

After standing up, Zhu Qiyu saw that Grandpa Iron Mask, who always wore an iron mask, was not wearing one today! Startled, Zhu Qiyu quickly bowed to Zhu Gaoxu and greeted him.

"Grandpa Iron Face~!" Zhu Qihao and Zhu Qihui followed their elder brother's footsteps and respectfully addressed the white-haired old general, who exuded a strange sense of familiarity, as "Grandpa Iron Face."

"Hmm~
"No need for formalities!" Zhu Gaoxu felt a strange pang of emotion as he watched his three grandsons bow to him. He simply waved his hand, telling his three grandsons to dispense with the formalities.

"Mu Sheng~!"

"What? Don't you recognize me?" Zhu Gaoxu's gaze swept past his three grandsons, and then fell on Mu Sheng, who was standing to the side with a shocked expression.

"Old~~~"
"Old General!" Mu Sheng almost blurted out "Old Prince." But he quickly realized his mistake and changed his address to "Old General." After all, at this moment, Mu Sheng didn't know how to address Zhu Gaoxu, the nominally deceased Emperor of Longguozhuang.

As for Mu Sheng's shocked reaction to Zhu Gaoxu, everyone except the Second Prince Zhu Qihao and the Third Prince Zhu Qihui remained calm. Only the Second Prince Zhu Qihao and the Third Prince Zhu Qihui, somewhat bewildered, looked at their dazed grandfather with expressions of astonishment.

"Enough with the nonsense. You've heard about what happened to the Second Prince in Korea, haven't you, Grand Secretary Mu?" Zhu Gaoxu asked Mu Sheng earnestly, his hands behind his back.

"Your Majesty, and the old general, on the way here, His Highness already told me about the assassination of the Ryukyu King," Mu Sheng replied, bowing before glancing at the still composed Emperor Longwu, who sat regally on his high throne.

"What are the cabinet's thoughts?" Zhu Gaoxu continued to press Mu Sheng for answers.

"General, I have heard that His Majesty has issued an edict ordering the First and Second Royal Ocean Fleets to assemble."

"The Cabinet will naturally follow His Majesty's decree in this matter." Mu Sheng spoke with impeccable composure. Even though Mu Sheng had already guessed that Emperor Longwu's request for him to bring his two grandsons along meant something big was about to happen, he remained remarkably calm until the matter was fully revealed.

"Grand Secretary Mu, how long do you think it will take to take over the Korean Peninsula?" At this moment, Emperor Zhu Zhanhe, who was sitting on the high seat, asked Mu Sheng.

"Your Majesty, according to my estimation, it will take the entire territory of Korea by the two Royal Navys in as little as six months!" Mu Sheng replied earnestly after a moment of serious contemplation to Emperor Longwu Zhu Zhanhe's question.

"In that case, Elder Mu will be in charge of the expedition to Korea this time!"
"I hope that within six months, I can see a completely new Korea!" Zhu Zhanhe said to Mu Sheng in a deep voice, as if he had expected this.

(End of this chapter)