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

Chapter 525 The Kings' Demands

"Heh~! Boss, look, all the impatient people have come! And look, they even sent representatives!"

"These guys have such sharp noses! They came running as soon as they smelled the scent!" After hearing Xiao Xizi's report, Emperor Longwu seemed not to be surprised at all, and turned to his son with a smile.

"Father is truly wise and farsighted!" Crown Prince Zhu Qiyu gently put down the memorial in his hand and flattered his father, Emperor Longwu.

"Master Steward, please let all the uncles, aunts, and brothers come in!"

"Oh, and remember to serve them a seat and some tea!" After putting down the memorial in his hand, Crown Prince Zhu Qiyu looked at his father, Emperor Longwu's, smiling face, and then calmly instructed Xiao Xizi.

"Yes!" Upon hearing the Crown Prince's words, Xiao Xizi respectfully withdrew.

Before long, a long line of six figures, men and women of different ages, dressed in court attire, stepped into the Hall of Supreme Harmony.

"Your Majesty, I pay my respects! And Your Highness the Crown Prince!"

Your Majesty, I, your humble sister, pay my respects! And I greet Your Highness the Crown Prince!

Your son pays respects to the Emperor! And greets His Highness the Crown Prince! For a moment, the Hall of Supreme Harmony was filled with the sounds of Emperor Longwu and the Crown Prince paying their respects.

"Alright, alright, we're all family, no need for such formalities, please get up." Looking at his younger siblings and nephews kneeling on the ground, Emperor Longwu smiled and chuckled as he gestured for everyone to rise.

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

"Thank you, Father Emperor!" Immediately, the kneeling princes and princesses expressed their gratitude and then respectfully rose. Although the Dragon Bone Emperor had told them not to be so polite, they wouldn't actually be impolite!

After all, proper etiquette should not be neglected!

"Eldest son, please have a seat!" After his younger siblings and nephews had all stood up, Emperor Longwu arranged for his son to offer everyone seats so they could sit down and talk.

"Yes!" Crown Prince Zhu Qiyu readily agreed.

Crown Prince Zhu Qiyu simply waved his hand. Before long, a group of eunuchs came in carrying chairs, small tea tables, and tea, and set out tables and chairs in front of each prince and queen in order, serving them tea.

"Sit down, everyone, sit down and talk!" After everything was arranged, Emperor Longwu smiled and continued to ask everyone to sit down and talk.

"Thank you, Your Majesty! Thank you, Father!" This time, the princes and princesses did not hesitate and sat down directly.

"Among you, Third Brother and Li'er are the leaders of all the princes; Eldest Sister and Second Sister are the leaders of all the queens of my Longwu; and Second Brother and Third Brother are also the leaders of many princes."

You lot are basically the representatives of my Dragon Kingdom's royal family. You must have something to say to me since you've all come here together!

"Speak up, I'm listening!" Emperor Longwu took a sip of fragrant tea and looked at his reserved younger siblings and sons with a smile. He broke the silence of the Taihe Hall by speaking first.

"Big brother guessed we were coming?!" Faced with Emperor Longwu's question and seeing the playful look in his eyes, the eldest among the group, the Third Prince Zhu Zhan'an, the Prince of Luzon, mustered his courage and answered the Emperor Longwu's question amidst the piercing gazes of his younger relatives and sister.

However, the Third Prince, Zhu Zhan'an, the Prince of Luzon, was also very cunning. He addressed the Emperor as "elder brother" from the start, immediately closing the invisible distance between himself and the Emperor before continuing to speak.

"Third brother, tell me yourself, which one of you didn't grow up under my watchful eye?"

I don't even need to think about what you're all up to!

"Tell me, what is it about me that you've set your sights on this time? Did everyone push you out to be the suckers?" After giving his younger brother, the King of Luzon, an annoyed look, Emperor Longwu said as if he had expected this.

"Big brother is wise!"

"Father is so wise!" Immediately after this, a barrage of flattery rained down on Emperor Longwu, as if trying to overwhelm him with its praise.

However, after a while, the seated crowd realized that Emperor Longwu seemed unmoved by their performance, simply watching them quietly. An awkward silence fell over the room, especially for the Third Prince, King Luzon, who was so embarrassed he kept scratching the ground with his toes!

Faced with the disdainful look on his elder brother Emperor Longwu's face, the Third Prince, King Luzon, knew that all the flattery they had put in was a waste of breath.

"Cough cough~!"

"Brother, the firearms you displayed this time are truly enviable. I wonder if you could provide some to our vassal states for their use?" The King of Luzon then looked at his elder brother with eager eyes and asked cautiously.

Meanwhile, the other princes and queens were also watching Emperor Longwu with eager eyes. Clearly, everyone was incredibly envious of the new firearms displayed yesterday!

To put it bluntly, the various feudal lords and kings really wanted the weapons from yesterday's Dragon Kingdom military exercise, so they nominated a few of them to plead for them!

After listening to his third brother, the King of Luzon, Emperor Longwu remained very calm!

"Third brother, your eldest brother has always been generous. Providing you with some new firearms is no problem at all."

But third brother, you must have a detailed list of your needs for new firearms.

You've gone straight to the point: "Big brother, provide us with some new firearms."

I have no idea what new firearms you want.

I can't possibly prepare all the firearms for you!

"I don't have that much stock!" Seeing that his third brother wasn't quite taking the bait, Emperor Longwu seemed to complain, but in reality, he was subtly giving everyone a hint.

"Big brother, look!" At this moment, Zhu Zhanyan really wanted to say to his older brother, "I don't actually need too many new equipment. Big brother, just give us the blueprints for those equipment, and we can build them ourselves when we get back!"

But in reality, the Third Prince, Zhu Zhan'an, the King of Luzon, was so shameless that he directly asked his elder brother for the design drawings without even asking! Moreover, the King of Luzon knew in his heart that even if he really asked, his elder brother would most likely not give them to him!

With the Third Prince, King Luzon, remaining silent, the atmosphere at the scene became somewhat awkward.

"Uncle, uncle, I don't need that much! Just give me 18,000 yuan worth of the new-style muskets!"

"It would be best if the design drawings could also be given to my nephew!" Just when things were getting a little awkward, a slightly young voice rang out. Everyone turned around and saw that it was Zhu Qili, the King of Ryukyu, who was sitting next to the King of Luzon.

Moreover, King Zhu Qili of Ryukyu spoke very directly, demanding a new type of firearm costing 18,000 jin, complete with design blueprints. King Zhu Qili's words struck a chord with everyone present! Immediately, all eyes turned to Emperor Longwu!

"Oh?! Li'er, your request is much simpler and clearer~!" After hearing the words of Zhu Qili, the son of his deceased second brother Zhu Zhanqi, Emperor Longwu's eyes lit up, and he still looked at his nephew with a smile.

However, seeing that his uncle neither said he would give it nor refused, the young and impatient King Zhu Qili of Ryukyu immediately became anxious.

"Uncle, our Ryukyu Island may not have much else, but it has plenty of gold and silver. I won't take your things for nothing. I can buy them with gold and silver!"

"Uncle, give me a price, or have someone from the Ministry of Works tell me a price! I will not haggle!" Seeing that his uncle did not respond, the Ryukyu King Zhu Qili, who was getting impatient, said boldly.

"Brother Li, you can't just talk nonsense!"

"That's not what we agreed on before!" Upon hearing that the Ryukyu King Zhu Qili wanted to buy the imperial court's weapons with gold and silver, the second prince, the Joseon King Zhu Qihao, immediately became anxious and hurriedly said to his cousin beside him.

(End of this chapter)