The Ming Dynasty: A Modern Return, Building an Overseas Empire

Zhu Gaoxu looked at Zhu Gaosui and smiled with great joy.

"Third brother, you're so kind. Since it's your intention, I'll accept it."

Zhu Gaosui didn't say anything else. After having a drink and chatting for a while, Zhu Gaosui left.

Only after Zhu Gaosui left did Zhu Gaosui's expression gradually become serious as he continued to ponder.

A short while later, a member of the Imperial Guard, led by a bodyguard, approached Zhu Gaoxu.

"Wu Liang, a centurion of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, pays his respects to Your Highness."

"Wu Liang, is it? King Zhao said you would follow me from now on. Do you have any thoughts on that?"

Looking at Wu Liang in front of him, he was tall and straight, full of masculine energy, and was clearly different from the people in the Northern Garrison.

Wu Liang knelt on one knee, cupped his hands, and said solemnly, "Your Highness, I am aware that it is my honor to serve you."

"I was originally a centurion in Hangzhou, Zhejiang. After discovering that the Zhejiang inspector had been framed by his colleagues in the Embroidered Uniform Guard, the Prince of Zhao transferred me to the capital."

After handing the case file over to the Northern Garrison Command, Prince Zhao ordered his subordinates to accompany him on a voyage overseas to establish garrisons for the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

The subordinate agreed. Later, the King of Zhao sent other people to handle the matter, and ordered the subordinate to follow the king and obey his orders. The subordinate was also transferred out of the Embroidered Uniform Guard and was no longer on duty in the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

"His Highness Prince Zhao instructed me to wear these clothes and bring my family along, to be at His Highness's command."

Hearing this, Zhu Gaoxu didn't know whether to complain about how melodramatic it was or what.

A local official uncovered a major case, and the dignified Zhejiang Inspector was framed by the Embroidered Uniform Guard. Instead of resolving the matter, the Embroidered Uniform Guard directly eliminated the person who had investigated.

In other words, Wu Liang, a mere centurion, was dealt with. But as if to avoid further complications, Wu Liang was directly transferred to him, and everything was fine.

Why did this turn of events feel so familiar to him?

Instead of solving the problem, punish the person who discovered it.

Moreover, things don't seem to be peaceful even within the Embroidered Uniform Guard itself.

Zhu Gaoxu didn't think about those things. Now he understood why Zhu Gaosui had made preparations so early and why he said Wu Liang was very capable.

To uncover such a major case using one's status as a centurion requires real skill; otherwise, it wouldn't be possible.

After a moment's thought, Zhu Gaoxu slowly spoke.

"Wu Liang, from now on you will follow me. After I go to sea to establish my fief, I will indeed need the Embroidered Uniform Guard. From now on you will be the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard in my fief."

Was he stripped of his identity as a member of the Embroidered Uniform Guard during the Ming Dynasty?

In his own territory, he didn't care about such things.

Wu Liang was stunned. Even though he was usually composed and had never been flustered when meeting the famous King of Han for the first time, he was truly dumbfounded at this moment.

Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard? Him?

Didn't he no longer have the identity of a member of the Embroidered Uniform Guard?

What's wrong with this commander?

But Zhu Gaochi was the Prince of Han, and he had just arrived, so he could only listen.

"Your Highness thanks me for your guidance! I am determined to serve you to the death!"

Although Wu Liang didn't know what Zhu Gaochi and other top figures of the Ming Dynasty were thinking, he knew one thing.

That means they must show their loyalty and work for Zhu Gaochi.

His family would all go to sea with Zhu Gaochi!

Zhu Gaoxu nodded, then dismissed Wu Liang without making any further arrangements.

"Third brother, your intentions aren't pure."

Zhu Gaoxu remained expressionless; he trusted Wu Liang.

It wasn't because of what Wu Liang said, but because of what Zhu Gaosui said, that he believed Wu Liang was alright.

This Wu Liang seems more like a smokescreen thrown out by Zhu Gaosui to resolve internal problems and for the Jinyiwei guards who went out with him.

Zhu Gaoxu was certain that while Zhu Gaosui claimed those Embroidered Uniform Guards were Zhu Di's men, there were definitely Zhu Gaosui's confidants among them!

It's just unclear what Zhu Gaosui was trying to do by deliberately keeping it a secret.

Take a deep breath and stop thinking about it.

Anyway, once you're in the fiefdom, in that place surrounded by the sea, it won't be so easy to go out and do anything or send any messages without his permission.

After tidying his clothes, Zhu Gaoxu headed towards the palace.

Next, he needs to address the naval issue.

Zhu Di was currently reviewing the memorials in his hand. In this turbulent time, he had no leisure time at all.

Just then, even though there was no one in the hall, a familiar voice suddenly came.

"Dad, I've come to get my people!"

Zhu Di's hand holding the memorial tightened suddenly, and a vein throbbed on his forehead.

Looking at Zhu Gaoxu who walked in, she really wanted to throw the memorial in her hand at him, but in the end she held back.

"Second brother, you're getting bolder and bolder. What are you trying to do with all this noise?"

Zhu Di is now wondering if this person is about to go to sea and has now unleashed his true nature, and is not afraid of him at all, right?

In the past, this person would never have dared to speak to him like that.

Especially since the person hadn't even arrived yet but their voice had already reached him, and they were there to ask him for help, yet they spoke with such self-righteousness.

Zhu Gaoxu grinned and symbolically cupped his hands in greeting.

"Dad, you're busy, I won't bother you anymore. Just give me ten thousand naval troops, and I'll leave, hehe."

"You unfilial son! You want a navy of ten thousand men? What are you trying to do?"

I haven't settled accounts with you yet for how you mobilized the Three Guards to go south, recruited private soldiers, and gathered tens of thousands of people outside the city.

You still have the nerve to ask me for a navy, and you even asked for ten thousand men? Get lost!

Zhu Di's face darkened; he was truly angered by this man.

If you talk to him nicely, he's not an unreasonable person.

He just casually mentions 10,000 people; is he using that to mass produce troops?

Zhu Gaoxu rubbed his hands together and smiled, showing no embarrassment whatsoever, nor did he care about Zhu Di's words.

"Father, I'm about to set sail, but I'm going to take up a fiefdom. Japan will definitely not agree to that."

Didn't you tell me earlier to destroy the Japanese and send over the heads of that worthless emperor and Ashikaga Yoshimochi?

But I have no navy, I can't even land in Japan, how can I fight?

"Father, lend me ten thousand naval troops. After I land and conquer a territory, I'll make them come back, okay?"

Zhu Di looked at Zhu Gaoxu with great interest and suddenly smiled.

"Second brother, you want to be Liu Bei, right?"

Liu Bei borrowed Jingzhou, and you come to borrow a navy?

If I lend you this 10,000 naval troops today, how much of it can you pay me back?

Let me tell you, there are no 10,000, at most 3,000. They'll come back after I log you in. Take it or leave it.

After Zhu Di finished speaking, he looked at the memorial in his hand again and ignored Zhu Gaoxu.

He hadn't said it before because he was waiting for Zhu Gaoxu to come and beg him.

Zhu Gaoxu was helpless when he realized that his little scheme had been exposed.

He did indeed have this idea in mind: to get the people out of there, and then find a way to keep the navy there.

He borrowed it through his own abilities, so why should he have to pay it back?

Once overseas, what could Zhu Di do with him?

Hearing that Zhu Di was only giving him three thousand men, and that his attitude clearly indicated there was no room for negotiation, he no longer hesitated.

"Alright, Father, give me the imperial edict. I need it now."

Three thousand men is three thousand men. That's more than enough to wipe out the Japanese navy.

Zhu Di glanced at it sideways, then ordered someone to bring out the imperial edict.

"Get lost~"

Seeing that Zhu Di was already prepared, Zhu Gaochi's lips twitched.

He picked up the imperial edict, ignoring Zhu Di's dark expression, opened it on the spot, checked it, confirmed there were no problems, and then happily closed it again.

"Dad, you're busy, I'll be going now~"

Having obtained what he wanted, which was clearly something Zhu Di had prepared for him long ago and that Zhu Gaoxu had clearly been thinking of him, Zhu Gaoxu stopped disturbing him and immediately withdrew.

Watching Zhu Gaoxu leave, Zhu Di, whose face was dark, suddenly smiled.

He shook his head, smiled, and continued reading the memorial in his hands.

Zhu Gaoxu, who had come outside, stopped in his tracks.

Although he only had three thousand men, he was somewhat reluctant to return those three thousand naval troops to Zhu Di.

As I said before, if you borrowed it through your own ability, why should you pay it back?

The Ming Dynasty doesn't lack this kind of navy, but this one is desperately lacking!

"But what should we do?"