Di Ming

Chapter 279 "Someone! Bring me my forceps!"

"I finally met you, sir, but I had to say goodbye again. I really don't know when I will be able to see you again."

"Today I have made a name for myself, and all the officials are very polite to me. This is all thanks to your efforts, sir. If it weren't for you, I wouldn't even dare to attend this victory celebration banquet."

“I kept looking back and saw that my teacher was still standing at the foot of the steps of Wuying Hall, silently watching me go. I knew that my teacher was worried about me and also encouraging me.”

"Father, so what if you despise me? So what if you ignore me? I still have my teacher who cares for me, loves me, and shelters me from the wind and rain!"

"Sir, please rest assured. Although I really don't want to be emperor, and I don't want to become like my father, I don't want to disappoint your expectations. If I really become emperor in the future, I will definitely do my best and try to be a wise ruler."

As Zhu Changluo spoke to himself, recalling his teacher's kind and warm gaze, he felt a surge of strength coursing through his body. With his teacher by his side, he no longer feared the cold palace, nor anyone else!

Zhu Changxun followed Zhu Changluo timidly, suddenly feeling very envious. He envied Zhu Changluo for having such a good teacher, while he himself didn't have one yet.

As Zhu Yin watched Zhu Changluo's figure disappear into the elephant carriage, a hint of melancholy crept into his expression.

Luo'er, the palace is cold and desolate, please take good care of yourself.

Zhu Yin had been teaching Zhu Changluo for several years, so of course he felt sorry for this student.

He feared that Changluo might not be able to bear the weight of the throne. He hoped that Changluo would live an ordinary life, happily and fulfilling.

"Changluo, your teacher doesn't want to be emperor either," Zhu Yin thought to himself, watching the imperial carriage disappear into the distance.

"But if I, your teacher, do not fight, what will become of the people of the world? I cannot simply stand by and watch China crumble and its people suffer."

"Can I not vie for the throne? No, I can't. The world of China needs someone to protect it from the wind and rain. And that person can only be me."

"If I lived in a truly peaceful and prosperous era, I would also like to be a wealthy man and live a happy life."

"such a pity."

"It's a pity that your father is so useless. He will ruin the Han dynasty. He doesn't even have the thought of saving the country. I can't watch him sit on the throne and bring disaster to the country and people, letting the world continue to sink."

"My fate is the fate of the nation; if I cannot succeed, who can? For the sake of the world and for the sake of China, I will go even if it means serving thousands of others."

"Seizing the throne is an enormous risk, and being emperor is an extremely difficult task. If Heaven punishes me, I will bear it all."

As Zhu Yin pondered these thoughts, he was momentarily moved.

The ministers who had accompanied the two princes back to the palace, seeing that the two princes had left, also prepared to leave the palace.

Zhu Yin seized the opportunity to say, "The eldest prince is a blessed man, but it is a pity that he had to stop his studies after only three years of study. It is truly a shame."

“I will submit a memorial to Your Majesty, requesting that the Scripture Pavilion be reopened. Even if it offends Your Majesty, I will still fulfill my duty as a subject.”

He certainly didn't want his disciple to be confined to the remote Jingyang Palace every day. If his studies were resumed, even if he didn't learn any knowledge, at least Zhu Changluo would be able to come out and get some fresh air more often.

It is clear that Zhu Yin was a good teacher who genuinely cared about his students.

Upon hearing this, the courtiers all nodded in agreement. The better they liked the eldest son, the more they regretted that the emperor did not allow him to study.

Even Shi Xing, the Minister of War who was at odds with Zhu Yin, chimed in:
“The eldest prince should indeed continue his studies. We should submit a memorial to him to urge him not to waste his time and neglect his studies.”

Zhu Yin's faction spoke out one after another, saying they would petition the emperor to restore the eldest prince's studies.

Seeing Zhu Yin's concern for the Crown Prince and the eldest son, and his fearlessness in offending the Emperor and Consort Zheng, everyone admired his exemplary conduct as a teacher.

Although Zhu Zhihu was young, he possessed the virtues of a gentleman and was truly a virtuous and indomitable minister!

For a time, many people decided to present their memorial together.

Shen Yiguan stroked his beard and nodded, smiling silently. Tian Yi's eyes were approving, and his expression was gratified.

Wang Xijue's old face, however, was somewhat gloomy. He squinted, carefully examining Zhu Yin's expression, hoping to find any affectation or pretense.

However, he only saw that Zhu Yin was sincere and did not seem to be trying to buy his reputation.

He discovered that even his seasoned eyes, which had seen countless people, could not see through this young man.

Wang Xijue suddenly felt powerless and could only sigh softly.

His close colleagues, who were familiar with Zhu Yin, even said that they would go to Zhu's house for a wedding banquet on the 12th of this month, so that everyone present knew that Zhu Yin was getting married on the 12th.

Zhu Yin certainly wouldn't object. The more people who go, the more money they'll receive in gifts—why not?
……

After the celebration banquet ended, Zhu Yin and his entourage left through the Meridian Gate and walked all the way to Chengtian Gate and Chang'an Avenue before stopping their sedan chairs in front of a closed silk shop.

When Zhu Yin climbed out of the sedan chair, Xiong Tingbi, Cao Wenzhao, Mao Wenlong, and more than a dozen others were already waiting there.

"Brother Zhihu!"

"Uncle Tiger!"

"Eunxiang!"

Everyone saluted together.

Zhu Yin cupped his hands in greeting and said softly in the cool moonlight:
"This is Beijing, right under the emperor's nose. It's not appropriate for civil and military officials to have too close private interactions. I'll say some things here."

"Once you take up your posts, there is only one most important thing: to train troops and prepare for the Japanese pirates, to drill your soldiers and prepare your horses for battle. The Grand General has retired to the second line as the Left Commander-in-Chief, so you will have to rely on yourselves to train the troops. Whether you are a deputy general, a guerrilla commander, or a garrison commander, you will each have your own troops. Train these troops into elite soldiers and strong generals, and that will be worthy of me and worthy of the Ming Dynasty."

He deliberately avoided mentioning that he had lived up to the expectations of the emperor and the court.

Xiong Tingbi and the others did not find anything wrong with it. Although the soldiers were the soldiers of the imperial court, the pay was the pay of the imperial court, and they were officials of the imperial court, would they have had the opportunity to realize their ambitions without the favor of the prime minister?

Believe it or not, it actually happened in history. But they themselves didn't know it.

Zhu Yin continued, “You don’t need to worry about military pay, provisions, or weapons. I will do my best to take care of things for you in the court. I will keep an eye on the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Revenue. As long as I am in court, your military pay and provisions will not be delayed or deducted, and your weapons will not be made in a shoddy manner.”

"You know my heart, and I know yours." Zhu Yin pointed to the crescent moon in the sky, "As bright as the moon itself!"

Everyone clasped their hands in a gesture of respect, their expressions filled with gratitude, and said, "Thank you, sir! We will certainly not disappoint you!"

The Ming Dynasty boasted a million-strong army, but how many of these soldiers were owed wages or food, and how many had weapons of substandard quality? How many soldiers' pensions were withheld or suspended?
The imperial court spends tens of millions of taels of silver annually on military supplies, but the vast majority is embezzled, misappropriated, or deducted at every level, ending up in a bottomless pit. Only a small fraction of that money actually reaches the soldiers!

If a general has no powerful backing in the court, and his soldiers are owed food and pay, how can his troops be trained? How much fighting power can they possibly have?
Fortunately, with Lord Zhihu in court, they had a powerful backer and no longer had to worry about these things.

Zhu Yin waved his hand and sighed, saying:

"The more you thank me, the more ashamed I feel for the court. Alas, ensuring that the soldiers have no worries is the court's duty, yet now we have to express our gratitude extra. How lamentable!"

Zhu Yin never missed an opportunity to sow discord between the emperor and the court:
"The Emperor has not attended court for several years, so how could he know the suffering of the soldiers? I submitted a memorial to advise him, but the Emperor not only did not listen, but also reprimanded me. If the emperor and father do not listen to loyal advice, what can a subject do?"

"The officials of the court are busy vying for power and profit, and tirelessly forming cliques and eliminating dissidents. How could they possibly care about the problems in the army, or the well-being of the soldiers?" "The hidden worries of a prosperous age, the rise and fall of the nation, and the well-being of the people—how many people in the court and the countryside truly care about these matters!"

Zhu Yin's tone was desolate, almost as if he were regretting something.

But in fact, he did not offend the emperor by submitting a secret memorial.

Upon hearing this, Xiong Tingbi and the others were deeply moved and exclaimed:

"Your Excellency's concern for the nation and his compassion for the soldiers are truly admirable. We are willing to follow in your footsteps and share your burdens!"

"Though I am unworthy, I am willing to obey your command, sir!"

"Rest assured, Your Excellency, I am willing to serve you to the death!"

"Whatever command you give, my lord, I will follow you to the death!"

The men spoke with firm conviction and unwavering expressions, proving themselves to be the grateful, righteous, and passionate young men chosen by Zhu Yin.

"Excellent!" Zhu Yin said happily, "With everyone working together with one heart, I am not alone on this path!"

"If the country is in trouble, with you generals taking on the mission in times of crisis, the nation can be safe."

After speaking, he crossed his hands in a gesture of respect.

Everyone hurriedly returned the greeting, saying, "We dare not accept such a courtesy from the esteemed minister!"

Zhu Yin continued, “A heart that cares for the world and a spirit of public duty are essential. A general must first have the well-being of the Chinese people and the safety of the nation in his heart before he can be a pillar of the country. I hope that after you take up your posts, you will be fair in rewarding and punishing, impartial and selfless, never committing any offenses against the people, and loving your soldiers like your own children. Only in this way can you train a strong and disciplined army and achieve the great deeds of a renowned general.”

"Do it well, do it well."

Everyone said in unison, "We will remember what the Prime Minister said."

Zhu Yin nodded and said, "I hope that in the future, I will have the opportunity to work with you all to herd horses across the mountains and rivers, expand our territory, and achieve unparalleled feats."

The crowd was filled with excitement, thinking, "If there is a future, we will be willing to give our lives!"

Zhu Yin was very satisfied with everyone's attitude.

The military ranks of this group ranged from brigadier general to battalion commander, with the highest commanding 8,000 soldiers and the lowest commanding just over 1,000. Although it may not seem like much, the total number of soldiers was over 30,000.

It is nearly three times the size of the Eight Banners overseas!
Moreover, these 30,000 troops are distributed around the capital region, almost all of which are key defensive areas.

Although there are 300,000 to 400,000 troops in the capital region, their soldiers only account for 10% of the total. However, these are all troops that Zhu Yin can influence, and most of them are elite soldiers who can play a significant role at crucial moments.

Of course, if they were to directly rebel with him, at least for now, only a handful of people would be willing to respond.

Not even one!
Currently, the only ones who are willing to resolutely rebel with me without hesitation are Ning Caiwei, Ning Qingchen, and Xiao Hei—just the two of them and their dog.

Even when Zhu Di, the Prince of Yan, started his rebellion, he only had eight hundred soldiers following him. Even his army of one hundred thousand, which he had commanded for many years, did not dare to rebel against him at first.

It is clear that while rebellion sounds exciting, it can be quite embarrassing to actually carry it out, and may even lead to social and tragedies!
...

When Zhu Yin returned to Hanzhang Terrace, the autumn night was already still and calm.

Ning Qingchen lay on the brocade couch, her small face somewhat dazed. She didn't seem happy to see Zhu Yin enter.

"What's wrong? Are you unhappy again?" Zhu Yin placed the food box in front of her. "I brought back some dishes from the victory celebration banquet for you."

Ning Qingchen sighed, "Little tiger, Ajin has gone into hibernation again. Sigh, we'll have to be apart for another six months before it wakes up."

So that's what it was about?
Zhu Yin shook his head upon hearing this. Ning Qingchen wasn't a real child, but in many ways, she truly acted like one.

“Hasn’t Ah Jin already hibernated several times?” Zhu Yin opened the food box and placed the dishes in front of her. “What snake doesn’t hibernate?”

Ning Qingchen picked up her chopsticks, took a piece of shad, and said after a bite:

"Is this shad? It tastes delicious, but it doesn't taste the same as what our cook makes?"

Zhu Yin laughed and said, "The imperial kitchen oversees dozens of head chefs, each with their own family's signature dish passed down through generations. Take this shad, for example; it's the work of the Song family from Songjiang. The Song family were imperial chefs during the Southern Song Dynasty, spanning the Song, Yuan, and Ming dynasties—a family of imperial chefs for four hundred years. How can our family's chefs compare?"

He then pointed to another dish, "This is the most precious Tibetan dish, Grass Insect Duck, made by a Tibetan chef. It is said that his ancestors were imperial chefs during the Yuan Dynasty. Even if we are rich, why would we hire a famous Tibetan chef just for a single dish?"

"Otherwise, how could Wanli's annual food expenses be 120,000 taels of silver? This is Wanli's personal expenses, not including the food expenses of his concubines and palace servants."

Ning Qingchen stuck out her tongue. "Even I'm surprised. No wonder everyone wants to be emperor. I heard Wanli was a big fat man. How could he not be fat?"

"The little tiger is quite something, it has a really good conscience, it even remembered to bring it back for me to eat. It's a pity that President Ning won't get to eat it."

They talked while eating their food.

Zhu Yin chuckled and said, "She can eat it too. Qin Liangyu also brought a portion back for her. She's Qin Liangyu's sister now."

A moment later, Jin Yunniang's voice rang out from outside the door: "Reporting to my lord, tomorrow we need to deliver the betrothal gifts, pay the betrothal present, and set the wedding date. I've come to collect the betrothal gifts..."

Zhu Yin stood up, took out the written betrothal gift list, which contained the list of betrothal gifts.

Jin Yunniang accepted the gift book and smiled sweetly, "My lady asked if Second Mistress had been mischievous in her sleep last night, and I said no."

Ning Qingchen raised her small face and snorted, "She's really meddling. She's getting married, she should be thinking about her dowry instead of worrying about things that don't concern her."

Zhu Yin instructed, "After sending the betrothal gifts, paying the tribute, and setting the wedding date tomorrow, you should send someone to the outer city to post notices and recruit students willing to study medicine..."

Jin Yunniang is the head housekeeper, so she doesn't need to do these things herself. She only needs to assign manpower and allocate funds.

Ning Qingchen suddenly said, "Sister Yunniang, don't leave yet. Let's eat the palace dishes together. I can't finish them all by myself."

Jin Yunniang smiled and said, "Alright, then I won't thank you, young lady."

However, she had only taken one bite when Lancha's voice came through, sounding somewhat panicked:
"Oh dear! Galo suddenly went into labor, but it's a difficult delivery. Those in the know say it's because the fetus is too big..."

Lancha was a man capable of taking on a hundred men and was never frightened on the battlefield, but at this moment he looked terrified.

He knew very well that many women died in childbirth. Childbirth was a life-or-death ordeal.

Galo is in great danger right now; it could very well result in the deaths of both him and his unborn child!
"Don't be afraid!" Zhu Yin quickly comforted his beloved general, "Second Lady is here! She is the reincarnation of the Medicine Buddha!"

Ning Qingchen suddenly stood up, her small frame ramrod straight, and said in a cute, childlike voice:

"Someone! Bring me my forceps!"

P.S.: Dear readers, I'm too busy today and can only update a little over 4,000 words. Thank you, goodnight! Someone, bring me my forceps!
(End of this chapter)