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

Chapter 520 Grand Military Review

"Your Majesty." Empress Xia looked at her husband with a worried expression after hearing his words. Empress Xia wasn't stupid; she knew perfectly well that her husband was still incredibly vigorous! The reason he was unwilling to continue favoring the young ladies was simply that he didn't want to say it.

"My lord, do not worry, I know what I am saying!"
Yu'er is not young anymore. Even if I were younger, there is no tradition in this world of being a crown prince for decades!

"From now on, I will begin to consider a path for my sons to pass on their legacy for ten thousand generations!" Emperor Longwu interrupted his wife, Xia, and said softly to her.

At this moment, Empress Xia looked at her husband with a completely bewildered expression, utterly clueless about what he was saying! Helpless, Empress Xia could only tightly grasp her husband's hand! She knew that her husband was planning something big! She couldn't hold him back!

At the same time, Empress Xia had a vague premonition that her husband's arrangement of his son to review the army and other matters was probably preparation for the crown prince's ascension to the throne!

Time flies, and soon it was the summer solstice of the twenty-second year of Longwu.

On this day, Crown Prince Zhu Qiyu, dressed in military attire, casually tossed the sword at his waist to the eunuch guarding the gate before striding confidently into the Hall of Supreme Harmony.

On this day, Emperor Longwu surprisingly came to the Hall of Supreme Harmony to conduct official business, which was quite unusual!

"Father, I have rehearsed the military inspection once again today, and there were no problems."

"I've come to ask Father Emperor whether the grand military parade will proceed as scheduled?" Crown Prince Zhu Qiyu asked his father, Emperor Longwu, with an excited expression as he entered the room.

“You are the Crown Prince, the future of the Dragon Kingdom. If you say it’s okay, then it’s okay.”

"But eldest son, you must remember, the future of this country is entrusted to your hands. You must never let your guard down!" Looking at his excited son, Emperor Longwu said sternly. He didn't want his son to be complacent at any time.

"Your subject has remembered it!" Crown Prince Zhu Qiyu, who had been excited, calmed down after his father's reminder and said seriously.

"Have the officials double-check the location and number of observers in Longdu Square, as well as the location of the representatives of various diplomatic missions on Longdu City Tower."

Order the Imperial Guards and city defense troops to strictly inspect people entering and leaving the city!

Boss, the day of the military parade is a big day for the Dragon Kingdom, the biggest event since the founding of our nation! Any mistake will be magnified infinitely by those with ulterior motives!

It will become a laughing stock among foreign missions!

You might even be looked down upon!

Even the route for observers to use the restroom must be watched by a designated person! Seeing that his son had calmed down, Emperor Longwu couldn't help but continue to instruct him.

Details are fundamental; they reveal the foundation of a nation! This is how Emperor Longwu is educating his son!

"Your subject has remembered!" Crown Prince Zhu Qiyu responded calmly after hearing his father's words. He took the military review even more seriously now!

In the days that followed, Crown Prince Zhu Qiyu personally led the team, reviewing and improving each of the military items listed by the officials.

At the same time, groups of people dressed in strange costumes were continuously gathering in Hanting, the capital of the Dragon Kingdom, from different directions such as sea and land.

"The King of Joseon has arrived!"

"Prince Ning has arrived!"

"The King of Ryukyu has arrived!"

"Ang Wang has arrived!"

"The King of Annam has arrived!" "The Ming Dynasty delegation has arrived!"

"With the arrival of one group after another of vassal kings from various regions and foreign delegations, the officials of the Court of State Ceremonies of the Dragon Kingdom have been extremely busy lately, welcoming wave after wave of foreign envoys!"

Today, Dragon Capital, the capital of the Dragon Kingdom, is bustling with activity! Countless foreign figures are moving about in Dragon Capital.
In stark contrast, patrol teams from the Dragon Kingdom appeared on the streets almost every fifteen minutes! Their gleaming armor, shining weapons, and firm, orderly steps all indicated that this was a well-trained and elite force! This subtly intimidated any restless individuals!

Amidst this lively scene, on the day of the Great Heat in the twenty-second year of the Longwu era!

On this day, the weather was clear and cloudless! The great sun shone its light on every corner of the world!

Outside the imperial city of the Dragon Kingdom, on Dragon Capital Square opposite Dragon Capital Avenue, a formidable square formation had appeared at some unknown time! Beyond this formation, countless houses, streets, and even trees overlooking Dragon Martial Square were already filled with numerous gentry and commoners.

If someone looked closely, they would see that these awe-inspiring formations even wore the same clothes! And at the very front of these formations, there were clear markings: Military Family Observation Group, Civil Service Family Observation Group, Veteran Observation Group, Gentry Observation Group, Military Academy Observation Group, Imperial College Observation Group, and so on!

This clearly indicates the members of these observation groups!

Along Longdu Avenue, directly in front of the observation group, rows of Longdu Imperial Guards, fully armored and wielding sharp blades, stood guard every three steps and sentries every five, like javelins on both sides of the avenue. Even the blazing sun overhead couldn't move them an inch! They were practically nailed to the ground!

At this moment, everyone's eyes were focused on the city tower of the outer city of Longdu! Those piercing gazes were comparable to the blazing sun overhead!

Time passed by, and just as everyone was anxiously waiting, things took a turn for the better!

"Woo~~~~" A series of deep and loud horn sounds rang out from the majestic city wall of Longdu! Everyone looked and could clearly see that at each observation post on the city wall, a soldier was blowing a huge horn with all his might!

The deep howl lasted for about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn before abruptly stopping.

"Welcome, officials of the Ming Dynasty!"

Welcome, Prince who has not yet taken up his fief!

"Welcome! Observation delegations from various countries, take your positions!" Just after the deep howl stopped, a heavy and heroic voice rang out from the outer city wall of Longdu and spread throughout the entire Longdu Square!

This awe-inspiring sound astonished everyone! In an instant, countless people turned their heads to look around, wanting to know how the sound had been transmitted!

However, some sharp-eyed individuals noticed a strange horn in front of the armored man on the outer city wall of Longdu! And around each of the various formations, there were also similar horns!

Although the exact principle is unclear, everyone knows that this is why sound can travel from the city gate tower to the entire Longdu Square!

"Boom boom boom boom~" Just then, a series of war drums sounded. Amidst this thrilling and exciting drumbeat, the side gates on both sides of the imperial city opened, and countless officials filed out from within!

Everyone could clearly see that the group of people who came out from the left side gate were well-dressed and walked with a strong gait. They were officials of the Ming Dynasty, as well as officials from the princes' and princesses' residences who had already taken up their fiefs!

Emerging from the right-hand side gate were figures with strange clothing, unusual skin tones, and even feathered headdresses! They were clearly envoys from foreign countries such as the Turks!

After the third drumbeat, all the officials who were observing below the city gate had taken their positions!

Among the foreign officials, several figures dressed in official robes extremely similar to those of the Dragon Kingdom could be clearly seen, looking at the imposing Dragon Kingdom officials with complex expressions, their eyes filled with complicated emotions.

If someone looked closely, they would realize that these figures were none other than Shi Heng, Xu Youzhen, and others from the Ming Dynasty! Yes, the Ming Dynasty's delegation had been placed in the ranks of the foreign tribes!

(End of this chapter)