57: Chapter 57 Leading the Second Generation of the Ming Dynasty to Jiangnan to Chop People Up

On the day of departure, in a side hall of the Eastern Palace, the newly appointed Chief Eunuch Wang Chengen was leading two young eunuchs, nimbly helping Crown Prince Zhu Yuntong change into a sturdy outfit suitable for riding.

Unlike the complex robes usually worn in the palace, this dark-colored, narrow-sleeved brocade garment, with a jade belt at the waist and black satin riding boots, accentuated the fifteen-year-old youth's upright posture, with an unsheathed sharpness visible between his brows.

Eunuch Sanbao held a crown, standing respectfully to one side.

Chief Eunuch Wang Chengen's eyes were slightly red, but his hands did not hesitate for a moment.

"That is enough." Crown Prince Zhu Yuntong raised his hand, stopping Chief Eunuch Wang Chengen from adjusting his collar.

He turned around and looked at this loyal eunuch, saying indifferently: "Chengen, this trip to Jiangnan will take three months at the shortest, and half a year at the longest. While Eunuch Sanbao and I are away, I leave this Eastern Palace to you."

Upon hearing this, Chief Eunuch Wang Chengen could no longer hold back. He fell to his knees with a thud, his forehead pressing against the cold bluestone floor, his voice choked with emotion: "Your Highness has a body of immense value, why risk yourself... This servant... This servant is willing to go in your stead!"

"You?" Crown Prince Zhu Yuntong chuckled softly and reached out to help him up. "If you go, who will watch the house for me?"

He patted Chief Eunuch Wang Chengen's shoulder, his tone becoming heavier: "Remember, guarding the Eastern Palace well is the greatest assistance you can provide me."

"This servant... obeys your command!" Chief Eunuch Wang Chengen kowtowed heavily, tears dripping onto the floor tiles, creating a small wet stain.

Crown Prince Zhu Yuntong said no more, put on his crown, and led Eunuch Sanbao out of the side hall with long, confident strides.

Outside the Jubao Gate, a team of over a hundred people had already assembled.

The composition of this group was extremely mixed.

There were Imperial Guard Cavalry from the Embroidered Uniform Guard, there were guards from the Eastern Palace, but the most eye-catching were the group of noble scions at the front, wearing flying-fish robes and bull-fighting robes.

Fu Zhong, Imperial Envoy Feng Cheng, Prince Consort Guo Zhen... almost the entire second generation of the Ming Dynasty's Huaixi Nobility group had been kicked out of their homes by the old men of their families and stuffed into the southward-bound team.

"Everyone, look sharp for me!"

Duke of Cao Li Jinglong rode a pure white horse, holding a horsewhip in his hand, pacing back and forth in front of these second-generation heirs, spittle flying as he spoke.

"Once we pass through this Jubao Gate, we are the hands of the Prince of Wu, the blades of the Prince of Wu! Put away your habits of drinking flower wine by the Qinhuai River! This trip to Jiangnan is for official business! Whoever drops the ball, there is no need for His Highness to speak; I will skin you alive myself!"

Fu Zhong curled his lips and muttered: "Jiujiang, we are all brothers here, there is no need to scare us like this. We have over a hundred people here, and the Embroidered Uniform Guard is following us, can those bookworms in Jiangnan really turn the world upside down?"

"Exactly, my dad said to just treat it as going out to relax." Imperial Envoy Feng Cheng also chimed in.

Duke of Cao Li Jinglong sneered and was about to lash out when Prince Consort Guo Zhen beside him suddenly stood straight: "His Highness has arrived!"

Everyone followed Prince Consort Guo Zhen's gaze and saw dozens of riders sweeping in like a whirlwind at the end of the official road.

The person in the lead wore a black python robe with dark patterns and gold weaving, covered by a black cloak. He was not riding in a carriage but was controlling a majestic black horse with one hand, his gaze like a knife, his aura fully unleashed.

Behind him, Embroidered Uniform Guard Commander Jiang Wan led thirty elite Imperial Guard Cavalry, following like shadows, all with their hands on their xiuchun blades, filled with murderous intent.

Crown Prince Zhu Yuntong pulled on the reins, and his warhorse reared up, letting out a long neigh.

The hundred or so arrogant noble scions at the scene instantly fell silent. That sense of oppression, as if he had crawled out of a pile of dead bodies, made their hearts tighten sharply.

"Greetings, Your Highness!" Duke of Cao Li Jinglong and Prince Consort Guo Zhen were the first to dismount and kneel on one knee.

The others woke up as if from a dream and all knelt on the ground.

Crown Prince Zhu Yuntong did not tell them to rise. He looked down at this group of Ming Dynasty "Heavenly Dragons" and said loudly: "I will only ask one thing: do you dare to kill?"

Everyone was stunned, and then a heaven-shaking roar erupted: "We dare! We dare! We dare!"

"Mount up!"

"Depart!"

Yingtian Prefecture, Jubao Gate tower.

The wind of the late spring cold was the most bone-chilling, pouring straight into people's necks through the gaps in the city wall's blue bricks. Zhu Yuanzhang was wrapped in a fur coat, half his body leaning on the battlement, squinting his eyes to gaze at the winding official road leading south in the distance.

At the end of the official road, the dust kicked up by the long line of people and horses had not yet settled.

"It is truly cold." The old emperor rubbed the backs of his hands, which were red from the cold, and exhaled a puff of white air.

Standing half a step behind him, Duke of Xin Tang He was wearing a comical sable fur cloak, his hands tucked into his sleeves, his neck hunched as he kept exhaling warm air: "Indeed, it is truly cold."

Zhu Yuanzhang glanced at him sideways; this old soldier's ability to play dumb was becoming increasingly masterful.

"Stop playing dumb in front of me." Zhu Yuanzhang turned around and stepped back from the battlement. "You know perfectly well what I want you to see. Those old fellows General Fu Youde and General Feng Sheng have really gone all out this time, stuffing the most promising descendants of their families into the southward-bound team. You, Duke of Xin Tang He, are sitting comfortably on the sidelines; why not let your own boy go follow Crown Prince Zhu Yuntong to gain some experience?"

Upon hearing this, Duke of Xin Tang He's old face wrinkled into a ball. He waved his hands repeatedly, shaking his head like a rattle-drum: "Your Majesty, please spare this old minister! You know what those brats of mine are like. They don't know a single character, and aside from carrying birdcages, drinking, eating, whoring, and gambling, they are useless at everything. If I really let them follow His Highness, they would just be dragging him down and causing trouble for him. I cannot afford to lose face like that."

As he spoke, Duke of Xin Tang He sighed with feigned seriousness, looking just like an ordinary old man driven half-to-death by his unfilial descendants.

Zhu Yuanzhang snorted coldly and did not take the bait.

Useless? When the eldest son of the Tang family was hacking people at Lake Buyur, his blade was faster than anyone else's. This old fox!

"You old thing!" Zhu Yuanzhang pointed at Duke of Xin Tang He's nose. "You were never one to fight or compete when we were conquering the world, and now that you are old, you still have this same stubborn attitude!"

Zhu Yuanzhang turned his head and looked again at the now-empty official road.

"Sigh," the old emperor's voice lowered, intermittent in the wind on the city tower, "The Ming Dynasty's empire, the deep-seated ailments of Jiangnan, cannot be cured by benevolence and morality alone. One must use a blade, a sharp blade. Crown Prince Zhu Yuntong, that child, is ruthless enough."

Duke of Xin Tang He's hands, tucked inside his sleeves, trembled imperceptibly. He lowered his head and quietly added: "Your Majesty is wise. In troubled times, use heavy codes; for deep-seated ailments, use strong medicine. This has been the principle since ancient times."

"Strong medicine?" Zhu Yuanzhang pulled at his face in a smile. "I am just afraid that this medicine is too strong and will puncture the lungs of that group of people in Jiangnan. Let's go, back to the palace to drink."