Ming Dynasty: Gain one supernatural power every day

Yang Ji, Hu Ying, Jian Fang, and Qiu Sheng were surrounded in the middle. Before they could even say a few words of modesty, their fathers had already sent people to urge them to leave.

The first thing Yang Shiqi did after the court session ended was to have his attendant tell his son to go to Prince Rui's residence that day to deliver a formal invitation, without delay.

Jian Yi was even more direct. After the court session ended, he personally went to his son and, in front of everyone, said, "Go back and change your clothes. Report to the capital today. Don't keep His Highness waiting."

Zhang Ni and Xue Bin were much calmer. They were both veterans and didn't need their elders to urge them. They each clasped their hands in a respectful bow to their colleagues and then strode towards the mansion.

The young men exchanged glances, said nothing more, and dispersed. After all, reporting to Prince Rui's residence was the most important thing!

On the other side, Zhu Di kept military generals such as Zhang Fu, Mu Sheng, Xue Lu, Zheng Heng, and Guo Liang, as well as civil officials such as Yang Rong, Jin Youzi, and Hu Guang who accompanied the army. Crown Prince Zhu Gaochi, Prince of Han Zhu Gaoxu, and Prince of Zhao Zhu Gaosui were also summoned to the side hall of Wenyuan Pavilion for a meeting.

After everyone was seated, Zhu Di asked his ministers to discuss the Annam matter. Zhang Fu was the first to stand up and walk to the large map hanging in the hall. He drew a route on the map with his finger: "Your Majesty, I believe that for this expedition, the army can go north along the Red River and advance by both land and water."

The land route departed from Zhennanguan and advanced along the Lang Son and Bac River line. The water route, led by Guo Liang, entered the Red River estuary from the sea, sailed upstream, and joined forces with the land army at the foot of Jiaozhi City.

After a moment's thought, he added, "Annam is crisscrossed by waterways and plagued by miasma, so the navy is just as important as the army. During the last campaign against Annam, the navy played a crucial role in transporting supplies and providing support. With Guo Liang leading the navy this time, we are sure to achieve twice the result with half the effort."

Guo Liang accepted the order with a bow, indicating that he would return and reorganize the fleet, preparing it for the expedition within three days.

Zhu Di nodded and then asked Xue Lu about the deployment of the vanguard cavalry. Xue Lu patted his chest and said that the vanguard cavalry had long been prepared for battle and were just waiting for His Majesty's order.

Zheng Heng emphasized the security of the rear supply lines, stating that he would personally oversee the operation to ensure that there would be no problems with the army's food supplies.

Yang Rong and Jin Youzi were in charge of military orders and marching records, while Hu Guang drafted the administrative plan for Annam after its pacification. After Jiaozhi was stabilized, prefectures and counties were established according to the inland prefecture and county system to appease the people.

After discussing for a while, the group finalized the details of the marching route, troop deployment, and land and water support.

With the business matters largely settled, Zhang Fu turned to Zhu Di and asked, "Your Majesty, Prince Rui has pledged to cover the provisions and supplies for this expedition. Military provisions are of paramount importance. I would like to personally inquire with His Highness about the specific distribution methods and delivery times of the grain, so that I can make necessary arrangements in advance."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Di nodded: "Indeed, we should ask the Fourth Prince. Since he made a promise, he must have already made arrangements. We can go to Prince Rui's residence together today."

The civil and military officials present immediately became excited. His Highness Prince Rui's name had been resounding in their ears these past few days; golden dragons, cloud beasts, celestial palaces, celestial delicacies—which of these wasn't something that filled them with longing?

They were usually busy with official duties. They had sent congratulatory gifts and paid a visit to Prince Rui when the Prince Rui's mansion was completed. They had no reason to go to the Prince Rui's mansion normally. Today, His Majesty personally took them there. It was a good opportunity.

After leaving Wenyuan Pavilion, the group stood in the square in front of the palace gate. Several civil and military officials glanced at the Crown Prince and the two princes, who had all arrived on clouds that morning.

If they could hitch a ride on one of these people's clouds and go there, that would be wonderful. As for Zhu Di, they dared not hope that he could take them there on a cloud.

Zhu Di stood in front of the crowd, intending to summon "Yongle" as usual. With a thought, the somersault cloud he named "Yongle" floated down from the horizon and hovered at his feet.

Zhu Di looked down at his own "Yongle" reign title, then looked back at the group of old ministers whose eyes were shining, and silently made a comparison in his mind.

This cloud of his is neither too big nor too small; it's more than enough for one person to stand on, barely enough for two people, and absolutely impossible for a group of people to stand on.

Zhu Di stared expressionlessly at the small, exquisite somersault cloud at his feet. Thinking of the divine beast clouds of his elder brother and the others, he felt a little shabby for the first time.

The mighty Yongle Emperor himself rode a cloud to Prince Rui's residence, yet his mount was several sizes smaller than those of his sons.

If these ministers outside saw this, where would he put his face as emperor?

Zhu Di coughed lightly, moved the "Yongle" sign aside, turned and called his three brothers, Zhu Gaochi, Zhu Gaoxu, and Zhu Gaosui, to his side, and whispered, "Eldest brother, second brother, third brother, lend me your cloud."

Zhu Gaoxu instinctively covered his sleeve, his face full of vigilance: "Father, this cloud was borrowed from my wife and Zhan He. We agreed to return it after court. If I don't, they'll tear the roof off my house when I get back."

Zhu Gaosui rarely nodded in agreement: "Yaoyao too. This morning when we were borrowing clouds, I spent ages coaxing her, and she only reluctantly nodded after I promised to take her to Fourth Uncle's house this afternoon..."

The brothers all gave the same explanation.

Zhu Di glanced at his three sons, his expression unchanged: "I'm borrowing, not stealing. Besides, would I steal from my own grandson?"

The three brothers exchanged glances, and the same thought popped into their minds at the same time: they didn't know if they would take the grandson's things or not, but they certainly took a lot of the son's.

Back during the Jingnan Rebellion, you didn't say this at all. You said everyone would get a share of the spoils after Nanjing was captured, but after the war, you went back on your word. Now you're even trying to take advantage of your son, Duoyun. What a terrible father you are.

The brothers called out the names of the clouds: "Overlord," "Kuanxin," and "Shenxing," summoning their respective clouds. Zhu Di waved his hand, merging the clouds together to form a large cloud large enough to accommodate more than a dozen people, and then took the lead in standing on it.

It wouldn't be appropriate for these officials to ride as cloud dragons, so it would be more convenient to simply merge with a piece of white cloud.

The three brothers also went up to the cloud. Zhu Zhanji stood next to Zhu Gaochi, staring intently at his own cloud, afraid that his grandfather would renege on the debt again.

Zhu Di then beckoned to the old ministers, "Come up here, all of you."

Military generals such as Zhang Fu, Xue Lu, Zheng Heng, and Guo Liang, as well as civil officials such as Yang Rong, Jin Youzi, and Hu Guang, carefully stepped onto the cloud carpet, their hearts filled with excitement. They all exclaimed that they too were riding the clouds!

The clouds beneath their feet were soft and thick, feeling like walking on cotton wool. Several old ministers stood on the cloud carpet, their faces filled with astonishment.

Zhang Fu looked down at the white cloud beneath his feet that carried everyone, his emotions running high: "I have fought half my life, ridden horses, sailed boats, and climbed mountains, but this is the first time I have ever ridden a cloud. Thank you, Your Majesty, for your grace, allowing us to experience riding the clouds."

Yang Rong also cupped his hands and said, "We have benefited from Your Majesty's favor today and have broadened our horizons."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Gaochi immediately leaned over, his loud voice barely concealed: "Hey, hey, hey, why are you only thanking Father Emperor? I also played a part in this cloud ride! Your ability to soar through the clouds today is also thanks to me, you know?"

Upon hearing this, the ministers immediately turned around and bowed to Zhu Gaoxu, then to Zhu Gaochi and Zhu Gaosui, smiling as they said that they should indeed thank His Highness the Prince of Han, His Highness the Crown Prince, and His Highness the Prince of Zhao, for their generosity in being able to ride the clouds today.

Zhu Gaoxu waved his hand and added, "Alright, alright, the person you should thank the most is my fourth brother. Without my fourth brother, let alone sitting on the clouds, you wouldn't even be able to touch the tail of a cloud in your entire lives."

Zhu Di shook his head at the Prince of Han, standing on the cloud: "Let's go. Hold on tight, or I can't help you if you fall."

With a thought, the white cloud slowly rose into the sky, drawing a graceful arc above the palace, and flew towards the Prince Rui's residence.

Clouds rose from the palace, swept over the Meridian Gate, and flew not too high.

Zhu Di ordered the Imperial Guards to follow below. However, if the flight was too high, the guards would not be able to keep up, so he simply lowered the clouds so that the government offices and residences along the way could be clearly seen.

Officials along the way looked up when they heard the commotion and saw a group of people floating overhead on a white cloud. The figure standing at the head of the cloud was none other than His Majesty.

Following behind were those same people who had been kept in the Wenyuan Pavilion for the meeting earlier. Zhang Fu, Xue Lu, Zheng Heng, and several other Grand Secretaries of the Inner Cabinet, their robes fluttering as they rode away on clouds.

The officials below looked up with envy at the sky, their eyes following the cloud until it disappeared in the direction of Prince Rui's residence, before reluctantly turning their gaze away.

My mind was filled with one thought—I must work hard, I must live longer, I must soar through the clouds, I must climb step by step to the very top…