King Luhuang of the Ming Dynasty: My father, Ming Taizu

"Fourth brother!"

In front of the city of Beiping, as soon as the carriage had stopped, Zhu Tan jumped down from the carriage, stood in front of Zhu Di's horse, clasped his hands together, bowed slightly and said, "I am flattered that you came out in person."

Zhu Di rode on his warhorse, looking at the little kid who used to run around behind him, feeling mixed emotions.

He dismounted and said with a smile, "Old Ten, you are quite leisurely. It took you more than half a month to travel from the capital to Peking on the official road."

"I'm getting impatient."

"My younger brother is lazy, just don't beat me, fourth brother."

Zhu Tan grinned and laughed.

Some of the memories hidden deep in his heart are painful. Not only him, but also those princes and descendants of nobles who once studied with Zhu Di in the Forbidden City, several of them had not been beaten by Zhu Di.

However, Zhu Tan's predecessor was obedient, or rather timid, and he didn't get beaten very often, but he did get beaten some times.

"That's all in the past."

Hearing Zhu Tan say this, Zhu Di also laughed, took his wrist, and walked towards the city, saying: "I have prepared a banquet for you, and have been waiting for you."

Beiping was not as majestic as Zhu Tan had imagined.

Apart from the tall and solid city walls, most of the houses in the city are low-rise, which is indeed very different from the capital Yingtian Prefecture.

Before entering the Prince of Yan's Palace, Zhu Tan carefully observed the city defenses of Peking and discovered that even without a war, the garrison of Peking had not relaxed. There were strong bows and crossbows on the city walls, and all the soldiers were in high spirits.

The army had strict discipline and his soldiers were all strong and capable. Zhu Di's success in the previous life was not a fluke at all.

The Prince of Yan's Palace was actually the former palace of Yuan Dadu. After Zhu Di returned to Beiping, it was renovated and became the current Prince of Yan's Palace.

When Zhu Tan came, Zhu Di really gave him enough face. Not only did he send his generals out of the city to welcome him, he also greeted him outside the city himself, and also arranged for the princess to greet him in front of the mansion.

When Zhu Tan saw Zhu Di's wife, Xu, he bowed respectfully without any neglect.

Prince Yan's Palace, main hall.

There were actually only a few people who were qualified to drink with Zhu Tan. Zhu Tan sat on Zhu Di's right hand and looked around, but he did not see the shadow of Yao Guangxiao, nor did he see the purpose of his trip.

"Come on, Tenth Brother, Fourth Brother will toast you first."

After sitting down, Zhu Di raised his wine glass and smiled at Zhu Tan, "You've been traveling all the way, and you've worked hard."

"My brother is not tired. He lies in the carriage every day, but his body is about to fall apart."

Zhu Tan grinned, drank the wine in the glass, and glanced at the people in the hall.

In addition to Zhu Di, his generals Zhu Neng and Zhang Yu were also present, as well as several officials in Peking, none of whom Zhu Tan was familiar with.

Some things, of course, cannot be said in front of these people, so Zhu Tan talked about many childhood memories with Zhu Di, and the two brothers drank happily.

But they both knew that these were just superficial things and the real core had not yet been mentioned.

After three rounds of drinking, everyone had drunk enough and asked to leave. Zhu Di then took Zhu Tan to the back hall and arranged two small tables for the two of them to continue drinking.

The two of them clinked glasses and drank a few more cups, but Zhu Di never spoke first, nor did he ask Zhu Tan what he came for. He was very patient.

Zhu Tan had already anticipated this situation. The fourth son, Zhu Di, had been strong-willed throughout his life. When he was previously named King of Yan, he was also determined to achieve great things.

But after arriving in Peking, before he could launch a large-scale attack on the Northern Yuan Dynasty, Zhu Tan had already resolved the issue of the Northern Yuan Dynasty.

Now Zhu Di is full of passion but doesn't know where to put it.

His idea is similar to that of many veteran generals in the court.

Zhu Di at this time was not the Zhu Di of his previous life. As long as Zhu Biao was still alive, he would be the King of Yan peacefully. Even if he felt a little aggrieved, he had no intention of rebelling.

Zhu Tan came to Beiping this time because he had something to ask Zhu Di, and he couldn't just keep silent.

Therefore, he poured himself a glass of wine, raised the glass, and said to Zhu Di.

"Fourth brother, why don't you ask me why I came to Peking?"

Zhu Di smiled and glanced at him when he heard this, and said, "You are a cunning boy. If I had asked in advance, I would have fallen into your trap."

"Fourth brother, you are really good at joking. You know my younger brother. He is honest and kind, and has no evil intentions."

Zhu Tan raised his glass lightly and drank it all. Zhu Di smiled when he heard it and said after drinking the wine: "Are you honest? You are fooling the devil."

"When you sent some Tibetan lamas to the grassland, I felt something was wrong."

"I didn't expect you to use them as a surprise force to wipe out Yesudi's main force and pacify the northern border."

"You think this is a good and honest plan. It seems I underestimated you."

"Not only are you clear-minded, you're also thick-skinned."

After being teased by Zhu Di, Zhu Tan laughed and whispered, "Fourth brother, if I say that those lama monks were not arranged by me, but they discovered the war and started it themselves, would you believe it?"

"What's the use of me believing it or not?"

Zhu Di took a bite of the food and said, "The key is whether Father believes it or not."

"From the current situation, Father will definitely not believe it. In the eyes of the old man, they must have been arranged by you."

Zhu Tan curled his lips when he heard this, feeling that this matter was really hard to explain.

But it doesn’t matter. He has no connection with those Lama monk soldiers. Let the old man think whatever he wants. Anyway, it’s impossible for him to go to the north again in a short time.

"Since you mentioned the war, Fourth Brother, let me ask you one more question."

Zhu Di changed the subject and looked at Zhu Tan and asked, "What is your specific plan for leading the army to conquer Japan this time?"

"The army is approaching."

Zhu Tan said casually: "I told the old man to lead the way with ironclad ships and fire cannons all the way. Those who surrender will not be killed."

"It's that simple?"

"It's that simple."

Zhu Tan blinked: "The old man only gave me 40,000 soldiers, what else can I do?"

"You kid, if you don't tell your fourth brother the truth now, I think you are too shy."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Di smiled and glanced at Zhu Tan, which indeed made Zhu Tan's heart tighten.

Damn it, this is Beijing, his fourth brother’s territory. If he gets beaten up, he’ll have nowhere to complain.

Thinking of this, Zhu Tan stopped laughing and said quickly: "In fact, there is a specific plan."

"Duke Xin is currently training his troops at the Shandong Military Region. After I leave my fourth brother, I plan to go to the Liaodong Military Region's shipyard to supervise the construction of ironclad ships."

"Once everything is ready, we will first destroy the Japanese pirates along the coast, and then march eastward."

Hearing this, Zhu Di's eyes flashed, but this expression was fleeting, and soon returned to calm, and then said: "The Japanese pirates along the coast are not so easy to wipe out, right?"

"Although I'm in Peking, I've heard that these pirates are very cunning. They have bases on many islands and reefs overseas. When they gather together, they rush in like a whistle. When they separate, they flee in all directions. It's impossible to catch them."

"Even if your ironclad ship is built, can it control the entire coast?"

"My brother will naturally find a way."

Zhu Tan grinned but didn't say anything further.

He is the soul of a modern man, with a God's perspective, and of course he knows what the Japanese pirates are.

The Japanese pirates sounded like they were led by the Japanese, but in fact many people from the Ming Dynasty were secretly in collusion with them, and some of the leaders of the Japanese pirates were even Han Chinese.

This group of guys are treacherous, but they know the routines of the court very well. These offensive and defensive methods are all developed by them. Not only that, the Japanese pirates also have contacts with many people in the inland of the Ming Dynasty, some of whom help sell stolen goods, and some help provide information.

In short, the Japanese pirate incident has allowed these people to build a mature industrial chain.

This is not just an ordinary border disturbance, this is a fucking business.

If we regard the task of destroying the Japanese pirates as destroying other people's business, the perspective will change and the method will naturally change.

Of course, Zhu Tan couldn't tell these things to anyone, it was enough for him to just know them in his heart.

Zhu Di felt depressed when he saw Zhu Tan didn't say anything more. This little fox was very cunning and it seemed that beating around the bush was no longer effective.

Therefore, Zhu Di said directly: "I won't joke with you anymore, I'll ask you directly."

"What are you doing in Peking?"

"My younger brother wants to borrow a few people from my fourth brother."

Zhu Tan blinked and said, "Fourth brother, you also know that this is the first time that the Ming Dynasty has fought across the sea. I don't have good sailing commanders or experienced generals, so I will be stretched thin if we fight."

"Fourth brother's men..."

"The autumn wind is coming."

Zhu Di interrupted Zhu Tan with a smile, then looked at him and asked, "Are you going to give orders in the name of the commander-in-chief, or are you going to discuss it with me?"

"How dare I give orders to Fourth Brother? You must beat me."

Zhu Tan hurriedly smiled and said, "I have discussed this with my fourth brother."

In his previous life, Zhu Di was also an emperor with extraordinary military strategy and great military achievements. Although he is now stuck in Peking, his strategic vision and brains are not given in vain. How could he not see Zhu Tan's intentions?

Therefore, Zhu Tan had no intention of hiding this matter, and it was best to speak directly.

"Tell me, who do you like?"

Zhu Di was drinking by himself and asked casually.

Zhu Tan's heart was slightly moved, and he said directly: "Zhu Neng and Zhang Yu under the command of Fourth Brother..."

"Don't even think about it."

Zhu Di glared at him and said, "These two are my right-hand men and left-hand men. They are needed for many matters in Peking. Change them."

"That……"

Zhu Tan pursed his lips and said softly, "Brother, I heard that there is a young eunuch named Ma He in the Prince of Yan's Palace. He is quite talented. Can he..."

"Oh, you even know this?"

Zhu Di raised his eyebrows and smiled, "He's just a teenager, how can he be so famous?"

"It's not that he's famous, but my brother is in the capital and I've heard some rumors about him."

Zhu Tan shrugged and said, "My brother asked you for the Zhu Neng Zhang Jade, but you didn't give it to him."

After hearing this, Zhu Di remained silent.

There is no way he would give Zhu Neng and Zhang Yu to Zhu Tan, but as for Ma He, the young eunuch in Prince Yan's mansion, it's not impossible.

Zhu Di looked at Zhu Tan and felt a slight movement in his heart, knowing that this kid would definitely not do something without a purpose. This little eunuch Ma He must have some outstanding qualities, but he had not paid too much attention to him before.

This matter can be used as a bargaining chip.

After thinking for a while, Zhu Di said, "I can lend you the person, but I have a condition."

Zhu Tan knew that things were not that simple, and he had already prepared himself mentally, so he said directly: "Fourth brother, you say."

"As for the war against Japan, I..."

"Fourth brother, please spare my brother."

As soon as Zhu Di opened his mouth, Zhu Tan said with a sad face: "Fourth brother, you don't know, because of the expedition to Japan, the threshold of my brother's house was trampled down by those dukes, and my father-in-law Tang He fled the capital crying."

"That's it. Before I left Beijing, I went to see my father, and he said I was stingy and didn't want to give a penny."

"God have mercy on me, brother, am I that person?"

"My father gave me the power of the army and asked me to select the generals. That was also a test for me. If I dare to agree casually, wouldn't that be asking for trouble?"

"Fourth brother, please don't make things difficult for me. If I write to the emperor and ask him to transfer the troops from the Beiping Military Commission to the east, I'm afraid he will ask the eunuchs in the palace to whip me."

The sadness on Zhu Tan's face was not fake; what he said was the truth and came from the bottom of his heart.

These things were all within Zhu Di's expectations. He sighed and said nothing.

He was also very frustrated.

The soldiers under his command were well trained and strong, but there was no war anywhere, so they had to stay in the camp every day.

Zhu Di wanted to stop the thieves and gain merit, but when he drew his sword and looked around, where were the thieves? Zhu Tan had already cleaned them up.

Now he wants to go to Japan to join in the fun, but his father won't allow him. What else can he do?
Even if Zhu Tan was forced to death, he would not dare to write a letter.

Seeing Zhu Di talking about it, Zhu Tan finally spoke up and said softly: "Fourth brother, you can't go to Japan, but father didn't say you can't move in the court."

Zhu Di's eyes lit up and asked.

"Huh? What do you mean?"

"Before I left the capital, I told my father that we must first clear out the harassing Japanese pirates."

"Fourth brother is a vassal king, and he has the responsibility to defend the territory. Isn't it within his duty to send troops to destroy the bandits?"

Zhu Di's expression changed slightly when he heard this, and he said, "Go on."

"In a few days, my younger brother will go to Liaodong Military Command to mobilize the ironclad ships, which will dock at Tianjin Port. When the time comes, my fourth brother will bring some people on board, and we brothers will work together to wipe out the Japanese pirates and make meritorious deeds by killing the bandits."

"Although I dare not tell Father that Fourth Brother should also go to Japan, Father will not say anything if we clear out the Japanese pirates in the court."

Zhu Di thought about it carefully, nodded slightly, and said with a smile: "You are so clever, kid. Are you going to send your fourth brother away with just this little achievement?"

"It's not even a little bit of merit."

Zhu Tan said, "Brother, think about it, from the Shandong coast to Guangdong and Fujian, there are traces of the Japanese pirates. If we can wipe them out in one fell swoop, it will be no less than a victory in a war."

"Fourth brother, this will be a good opportunity for you to train your soldiers. If our dynasty has to fight overseas again, you will have something to say."

Zhu Di already agreed with Zhu Tan's words in his heart, but he refused to say it. He just smiled and said, "Who did you learn these twists and turns from?"

"I've only been an exile for a few years. Have you done anything good in the capital?"

Upon hearing this, Zhu Tan said nothing, but just grinned.

He has done a lot of things, but it is not necessarily true that they are all good things.

But no one had ever taught him this kind of scheming mentality; it was just his nature.

"Okay, that's settled."

Zhu Di laughed again and said, "If you want Ma He, I will call him now. I won't listen to what you want me to do."

"But if you lie to me about clearing out the Japanese pirates, don't blame me for kicking you!"

"You wouldn't dare."

Zhu Tan immediately shook his head. (End of this chapter)