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

After thinking it over, Zhu Gaoxu immediately summoned Niu Cheng.

"Niu Cheng, go down immediately and prepare fifty men to come with me!"

"Your Highness, shall we prepare the weapons?"

Niu Cheng's heart skipped a beat, and his eyes lit up. He brought fifty people with him; they were about to get things done.

Niu Cheng showed no hesitation or panic; on the contrary, he was filled with anticipation.

After all, he had been there for quite some time and was eager to move around and stretch his limbs.

Zhu Gaoxu stared at Niu Cheng for a moment, then sighed inwardly.

"What are you bringing? Go empty-handed, nobody is allowed to bring anything."

"Ah? Yes, Your Highness."

Niu Cheng dared not delay and immediately withdrew.

Before long, Zhu Gaoxu arrived outside the Prince's Mansion with Niu Cheng. There, he saw fifty people already waiting.

Even without any weapons, they still exude a chilling killing intent.

They had all fought alongside him in numerous battles, weathering countless bloody storms; how could they not possess a chilling aura?

Zhu Gaoxu was extremely satisfied with what he saw and immediately mounted his horse.

"Set off!"

"yes!"

At Zhu Gaoxu's command, the fifty men marched off in an orderly fashion, their footsteps making a loud thud.

Once on the street, everyone looked at each other in disbelief, and people from all sides were filled with trepidation.

What does this gentleman want to do now?

Those who had previously been visited by Zhu Gaoxu immediately shut their doors and waited anxiously at home.

Neither the Imperial Guards nor the patrolling soldiers dared to ask any questions; they could only follow from a distance.

Zhu Gaoxu ignored it and continued walking with an air of nonchalance.

Inside the palace, Zhu Di, who was handling affairs, was suddenly interrupted by the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

"Your Majesty, His Highness the Prince of Han has set out with fifty men, but we do not know where he is headed."

As soon as he finished speaking, Yang Shiqi and the others were all startled, but Zhu Di seemed to show no concern at all. He simply waved his hand, signaling the Embroidered Uniform Guards to leave.

Seeing that Zhu Di had resumed dealing with serious matters, Yang Shiqi and the others had no choice but to refocus their attention.

However, a short while later, the Imperial Guards arrived in a hurry.

"Your Majesty, something terrible has happened! His Highness the Prince of Han has led his men to the Ministry of War!"

This not only shocked Yang Shiqi and others, but also made Zhu Di raise an eyebrow.

Thinking of something, Zhu Di's lips slowly curled up, then quickly disappeared, still ignoring it.

Seeing this, Yang Shiqi and the others, who had wanted to speak, all fell silent.

In the Eastern Palace, Zhu Gaochi was reading memorials when he was startled to hear that Zhu Gaoxu had left the palace with dozens of men.

"What is that second brother up to now? He's really making things difficult for us."

Before Zhu Gaochi could think for long, another message arrived.

"The Prince of Han has led his men to the Ministry of War!"

At this point, Zhu Gaochi could no longer sit still and immediately got up and rushed to the Ministry of War.

Upon hearing the news about Zhu Gaoxu, Zhu Gaosui immediately went to Zhu Gaoxu's side at the Prince of Zhao's residence.

"Second brother, what are you doing at the Ministry of War? You can't do anything reckless, second brother!"

Zhu Gaosui originally just wanted to come out and watch the show, to see what Zhu Gaoxu was up to.

However, Zhu Gaoxu completely ignored him, and he wisely refrained from asking any further questions.

But when he saw the Ministry of War's office in the distance, Zhu Gaosui couldn't hold back any longer.

Zhu Gaoxu's target was clearly the Ministry of War.

Although he didn't know why, he didn't want to get involved.

He joined Zhu Gaoxu's army halfway through, and even brought along the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

If Zhu Gaoxu were to cause any trouble, Zhu Gaosui wouldn't even dare to think about it; he would definitely be implicated as well.

Zhu Gaoxu wasn't afraid of going to sea, but he was afraid.

Zhu Gaoxu looked calmly at Zhu Gaosui, who was blocking his way.

"Third brother, if you're afraid of getting involved, you can leave."

"Get out of my way now, and I won't make a move. Otherwise, don't blame me for taking action."

Hearing Zhu Gaoxu's calm words and seeing his resolute expression, a bead of cold sweat rolled down Zhu Gaosui's forehead.

At that moment, he was truly both scared and panicked.

Now that Zhu Gaochi is in the Ming Dynasty, he has no scruples and dares to do anything, but he has to consider the consequences.

Zhu Gaosui, his face grim, waved his hand reluctantly, signaling the Imperial Guards to make way.

"Second son, take my advice and don't cause trouble at the Ministry of War, or the old man won't be able to explain it to you!"

"Hehe, third brother, I'm not here to cause trouble, I'm just here to handle something."

Zhu Gaoxu ignored him and continued walking forward.

Just as they were about to arrive at the Ministry of War, Zhu Gaochi arrived quickly in a carriage.

Before the car had even come to a complete stop, Zhu Gaochi leaned out.

"Second brother, stop! Let's talk this out. As your older brother, I'll help you. There's no need to force your way in with men!"

Zhu Gaochi shouted loudly as he pulled up his pants and ran towards Zhu Gaoxu.

Approaching the scene, he was panting heavily, but Zhu Gaochi didn't care at all at the moment.

"Second brother, listen to my advice. Talk things out. There's nothing that can't be resolved."

"Send your guards back first, otherwise things might escalate."

Zhu Gaoxu sneered inwardly upon hearing Zhu Gaochi's words.

He hasn't even stepped into the Ministry of War's office yet, and this person has already started to accuse him of all sorts of things.

Hearing these words, all meant to be for his own good, meant none of them to him.

If word gets out, people will only say that the Crown Prince is considerate of the overall situation, benevolent, and has brotherly affection, while Zhu Gaochi is nothing.

Suddenly, Zhu Gaoxu smiled slowly.

"Boss, your body is really weak. A grown man, so frail and weak."

Why aren't you resting properly in the Eastern Palace? Why are you stopping me from entering the Ministry of War? Or is there something shady going on at the Ministry of War?

"Second brother, you...you know I'm in poor health, can you please stop making me worry?"

If you have any problems, just tell me, and I, as your older brother, will help you solve them.

The Ministry of War is an official government office; there's nothing shameful about it. You can go see it anytime you want.

Zhu Gaochi was momentarily speechless at Zhu Gaoxu's words. He could see that Zhu Gaoxu was now truly indifferent to everything.

Zhu Gaoxu leaned close to Zhu Gaochi's neck and whispered, "Boss, since you can solve this for me, then I want to see the navy's roster. Go and get it for me."

Zhu Gaochi's pupils contracted, then he smiled bitterly as he looked at Zhu Gaoxu.

"Second brother, that roster is one of the Ministry of War's top secrets. Not to mention you, even I wouldn't be able to see it easily..."

"Boss, if you can't do it, don't make such confident promises."

After Zhu Gaoxu finished speaking, he didn't bother to pay any more attention to Zhu Gaochi and led the group inside.

This time, neither Zhu Gaochi nor Zhu Gaosui stopped them, but they still kept trying to persuade them.

Once Zhu Gaoxu entered, Zhu Gaosui gestured to a member of the Imperial Guard, who immediately headed towards the palace.

Zhu Gaoxu arrived at the Ministry of War, where everyone stood in the courtyard.

They all saw what just happened.

Seeing this, Zhu Gaoxu didn't waste any words.

"Where is Minister of War Jin Zhong? Bring him out to see me!"

"Your Highness Prince Han, Minister Jin is not here. He has already gone out to select guards for His Highness the Crown Prince."

Zhu Gaoxu couldn't help but frown; at that moment, he remembered something.

Jin Zhong, that old geezer, had long been the Grand Master of the Palace, and he strongly supported Zhu Gaochi. He began to tutor Zhu Zhanji in the sixth year of the Yongle reign.

Later, he proposed to Zhu Di that Zhu Zhanji be made the Crown Prince.

This trip was to prepare for Zhu Zhanji's investiture ceremony. Young children were selected from all over the country to form a guard for Zhu Zhanji, becoming his confidants and right-hand men.

Zhu Gaoxu stopped thinking about it. He couldn't stop it anymore, and he didn't want to get involved.

He looked at the vice minister who had spoken and took out Zhu Di's imperial edict.

"Bring me the roster of the navy. I need the roster of the navy stationed in Yangzhou, Suzhou, Changzhou, and Songjiang. Get it to me immediately!"

The group looked at the imperial edict in Zhu Gaoxu's hand, and then at the people around them who were all Zhu Gaoxu's men; not one of them was stubborn.

Zhu Gaochi and Zhu Gaosui outside had both suffered a setback, so they dared not do anything more.

Anyway, if something goes wrong, it's Zhu Gaoxu's fault.

"Please wait a moment, Your Highness."

A short while later, a box was carried to Zhu Gaoxu.

Zhu Gaoxu opened the books and looked at them for a while, then took both rosters into his hands.

"Put these back. I'll take these two rosters with me."

After finishing his speech, Zhu Gaoxu left without waiting for the Ministry of War officials to stop him.

This is exactly what Zhu Gaoxu's purpose was in coming to the Ministry of War.

With the roster and the imperial edict, he could mobilize them and also know the families of these three thousand naval soldiers, making it convenient for him to take them all away.

He could never return those three thousand men to Zhu Di.

He would only give it to Zhu Di if he pressed him for it.

Upon exiting, they saw that Zhu Gaochi and Zhu Gaosui were still there, both with worried expressions, and approached Zhu Gaochi with smiles.

Next, he was going to talk to Zhu Gaochi about going to sea.