Ming Dynasty: Gain one supernatural power every day

Zhu Gaoxi's sleeve was almost twisted from being tugged, and he looked at him with a wry smile: "Look how anxious Second Brother is. Alright, let's make this clear, should we assign Second Brother's vanguard battalion first, or should we assign Second Brother first?"

Zhu Gaoxu blushed slightly, scratched the back of his head, and chuckled, "Second Brother is the commander of the Vanguard Battalion, so assigning him a general is the same as assigning one to the Vanguard Battalion, isn't it? It's all the same!"

Zhu Gaoxi deliberately hesitated for a moment, then said in a serious tone, "How about we get a wild boar for Second Brother? These things are quite formidable, fast, and fierce; even tigers avoid them."

Zhu Gaoxu's smile froze instantly.

He pictured himself charging into battle on a giant wild boar, surrounded by soldiers riding tigers and leopards, looking majestic and imposing, while he rode a wild boar with its mane bristling and grunting.

This isn't about showing off; it's about making a fool of yourself! If he rides that out in public, people will call him whatever they want—he'll become the number one wild boar king of the Ming Dynasty!

He was so anxious he almost jumped up: "No, fourth brother! You can equip second brother with a tiger, lion, elephant, anything! Even a leopard! But please, don't equip second brother with some wild boar! It would be so embarrassing to ride that!"

Hearing his fourth brother suggest pairing his second brother with a wild boar, Zhu Gaochi, standing nearby, instantly pictured it in his mind and almost couldn't help but laugh: "Second brother... you're mistaken. A wild boar is a ferocious beast, with thick skin and tough flesh; it might not be any less formidable than a tiger in battle. Besides, wild boars have a fierce temper, which would be quite a good match for you."

Zhu Gaosui nodded in agreement, as if deep in thought: "Indeed. Wild boars are incredibly strong, so it would be quite fitting for Second Brother to ride one."

Zhang Fu, imagining the image of the Prince of Han riding a wild boar, couldn't help but chuckle, "If Your Highness could ride a wild boar into battle, you would truly be the first person in history to do so. History would have to dedicate a whole page to you."

Zhu Di wanted to laugh but couldn't be disrespectful in public, so he turned his head away, coughed lightly with his hand to his lips, and when he turned back, his face had regained its imperial majesty: "If you ride that thing up there, don't say you're my son."

The civil officials nearby were even more mischievous, each covering their faces with their sleeves, their shoulders shaking wildly. After they had laughed enough, they lowered their sleeves and their faces returned to seriousness.

Yang Rong straightened his clothes, cupped his hands in a solemn manner, and said, "Your Highness, General Zhang is absolutely right. If you really ride a wild boar into battle, I will personally write a record of it. Rest assured, I will describe Your Highness's heroic figure vividly, writing, 'Han King Zhu Gaoxu, riding a wild boar, charged into the enemy formation, and wherever he passed, both enemy and ally were terrified.'"

Jian Yi chimed in from the side, "Your subject also wishes to add his name to the register. The might of the wild boar, matched with the bravery of the King of Han, is an unprecedented feat, and it would be a great pity if it were not recorded in history."

Zhu Gaoxu was so embarrassed by the rebuttals that his face turned red and his eyes widened. He looked at his eldest brother, then his third brother, then Zhang Fu and his own father. This question was too difficult. He couldn't possibly defeat so many people!

In the end, he could only turn to Zhu Gaoxi with a face full of grievance, his expression practically screaming "You're about to cry."

Zhu Gaoxi finally couldn't help but laugh and wave his hand: "Alright, alright, just teasing your second brother. Look how anxious he is. I've already prepared a White Tiger for you."

What kind of White Tiger should I pair it with? Which kind? Just definitely not the Gong Baiwan type.

Zhu Gaoxu breathed a sigh of relief, "Fourth brother is still the best to second brother," and regained his spirited demeanor.

Amidst laughter and conversation, Zhu Di waved his hand, and the group left the palace gates to head to the military camp.

With many people present, and many ministers not yet having somersault clouds, Zhu Gaoxi raised his hand and summoned a large expanse of white clouds from the sky, which transformed into a wide cloud carpet, carrying everyone together to the camp outside the city.

On the cloud carpet, Zhu Gaoxi said to the ministers around him, "Please continue to keep an eye out for the gourds I mentioned last time. Also, as I just said, I need real rare and exotic animals, regardless of species, as long as they are unusual, rare, or useful to you."

"As long as it's useful to me, I'll reward you handsomely—somersault cloud, gourd magic weapon, gold beans, anything goes. If you want to extend your lifespan, that's not out of the question either."

Upon hearing this, everyone on the cloud smiled.

Zheng Heng was the first to bow and say, "Your Highness, rest assured, this humble general will return and mobilize all the brothers to find this rare and ferocious beast!"

Several civil officials echoed this sentiment, saying they would do their utmost to send people to search for him.

Yang Rong went even further, saying that the overseas gourds he had promised to keep an eye out for for His Highness were on track, and that the first batch of sorted gourds would be delivered to Prince Rui's residence today.

As they spoke, the cloud carpet had already flown over the military camp.

As Zhu Gaoxi descended from the clouds, messengers rushed into the camp to report the event.

A commotion immediately broke out in the camp. The soldiers hurriedly adjusted their armor while whispering amongst themselves:

"Have you heard? His Majesty is here!"

"It's not just His Majesty; Prince Rui has come too!"

"Your Highness Prince Rui? Is that the immortal who rides a dragon and flies through the sky?"

"Yes, yes, some people even say he's the reincarnation of the King of Hell, capable of altering people's lifespans. Let's hurry, let's go! What if we're late and our lifespans are shortened?"

Zhu Gaoxi spread his mental energy, originally intending only to observe the layout of the military camp, but ended up hearing all the whispers clearly.

His expression was complex. The reincarnation of Yama, the King of Hell? How did the news spread so far?

He shook his head, temporarily putting these messy rumors behind him, and ordered his accompanying officials to take people to dig up some ants, grasshoppers, and earthworms near the drill ground, the more alive the better.

Then he turned to Zhu Di and Zhang Fu and said, "Father, General Zhang, since this is Your Majesty personally leading the expedition, let's start with Your Majesty and the generals, and first equip the officers with their mounts. Then select elite soldiers from each camp and equip them with fierce beast mounts. As for the method of recognizing a master, it will be the same as with the Somersault Cloud, just a drop of blood."

Zhu Di nodded, and Zhang Fu immediately issued an order for the entire army to assemble at the drill ground.

On the drill ground, tens of thousands of soldiers stood in formation, banners fluttering and swords and spears like a forest.

Zhang Fu was the first to ascend the high platform, and shouted down in a booming voice, "You all better stand up straight! His Majesty and Prince Rui have come to the military camp today to announce something important!"

The soldiers below straightened their backs in unison.

Zhang Fu paused, his gaze sweeping across the entire room, and continued, "We are setting off for Annam tomorrow. I ask you all, are you all ready?"

"Ready! To die for the Ming Dynasty! To die for His Majesty!"

Tens of thousands of soldiers shouted in unison, their voices shaking the heavens and even causing the flags beside the drill ground to flutter loudly.

Zhang Fu pressed his hand down, and after the shouts subsided, he announced loudly, "His Majesty is personally leading the expedition this time, going to the battlefield alongside you all! Moreover, His Highness Prince Rui, a direct disciple of the Daoist Ancestor and a celestial being, has also arrived at the military camp today!"

"His Highness intends to assemble a beast-riding legion for our Great Ming, selecting the bravest elites from among you to ride tigers, leopards, and black bears into battle! What an honor this is! All of you, keep your spirits up and don't disgrace our camp in front of His Highness!"

The soldiers below nearly popped their eyes out. Fighting on a tiger?

If General Zhang hadn't said it himself, they would never have believed it, even if they were beaten to death.

A barely suppressed commotion erupted on the training ground. Everyone unconsciously straightened their chests, wishing they could stand on tiptoe, afraid that the commander on the platform wouldn't see them.

Zhang Fu stepped back, giving up the center of the platform.

Zhu Di slowly stepped forward, his gaze sweeping over the faces of the dark mass of soldiers on the drill ground. His tone exuded imperial authority: "Tomorrow we will set out on the expedition, and I will go with you. The rebels in Annam, I want you to personally show them what the might of the Ming Dynasty is, and what it means to punish those who offend the Ming Dynasty, no matter how far away they are."

As he finished speaking, Zhu Di's fist traced an arc in the air before slamming heavily into the void in front of him.

"Those who offend our Great Ming Dynasty, though far away, shall be punished!"

Tens of thousands of soldiers on the training ground roared in unison, their voices exploding like thunder, causing the banners around the training ground to flutter and even startling a flock of birds in the woods outside the distant military camp.

The soldiers' faces were flushed, veins bulging, and the killing intent and passion that had been suppressed for so long were completely ignited by Zhu Di's few words.

After Zhu Di finished speaking, he turned to look at Zhu Gaoxi standing beside him, his tone unusually gentle: "I've finished speaking, Fourth Prince, the rest is up to you."