Chapter 116: That Fat Cripple Man…

Looking at the two kings who were about to leave, Zhu Yunwen frowned. If things continued like this, the two kings would sooner or later be eliminated by the “Three Highs.” So, he shouted, “Eat more vegetables…”

“As you command.”

Zhu Zhi and Zhu Geng replied bitterly.

Seeing the two kings leaving, Zhu Yunwen turned to Ma Enhui and asked, “What’s wrong with the Empress today? Medical gauze is in great demand among the common people. Why not allocate a batch to sell to the nobility and wealthy merchants?”

Ma Enhui replied solemnly, “Your Majesty, although I appreciate wealth, I also understand that medical gauze is essential for the military. It is a matter of life and death for frontline soldiers. How can personal gain take precedence over the lives of our soldiers?”

Zhu Yunwen looked at Ma Enhui with appreciation.

Her heart had always belonged to the Great Ming as its Empress.

Being the mother of the nation was a belief she never wavered from.

The efficiency of the Directorate of Ceremonial’s Printing office was commendable. In just three days, the blue-printed version of the “Romance of the Three Kingdoms” was delivered to the Wuying hall.

As Zhu Yunwen looked at the familiar text, his expression became somewhat trance-like, as if a gaze had transcended more than six hundred years of time, blending together the familiar, the unfamiliar, the dreamlike, and the real…

Interwoven like an unforgettable dream.

Ma Enhui personally arrived at the Wuying hall and saw Zhu Yunwen asleep at his desk. She felt a pang of pain in her heart and whispered, “Has the Emperor had his evening meal?”

Shuang Xi replied with a touch of worry, “Your Highness, he hasn’t had his meal yet.”

“Never mind, I’ll stay here. Leave two people here, and you can go rest.”

Ma Enhui took a fur coat, quietly walked up to Zhu Yunwen, draped it over him, and, seeing that he didn’t wake up, breathed a sigh of relief.

Lately, there had been a lot of issues in the court, and these matters required the Emperor’s personal review.

Ma Enhui sighed softly.

Even an iron-willed person couldn’t withstand such daily exhaustion.

There was still an unsealed memorial on the desk, and Ma Enhui lowered her head to read it. It was a report from the naval forces.

“Your Subject, Zheng He reports from Hengsha: From early February to the 26th of February, a total of 2,542 Japanese pirates have been executed, and there are an additional 632 Western barbarian bandits… However, the Japanese pirates are gradually diminishing, with only three to five ships, and they are virtually invisible…”

“The Japanese pirates are consolidating their forces, from a few dozen to even thirty to forty ships, forming a significant presence. Your subject requests permission to take the initiative and search for the lairs of these Japanese pirates in the vast East Sea…”

“We pledge our lives to hunt down the Japanese pirates endlessly, pacify the waves of the sea, and safeguard the mountains and seas of the Great Ming!”

Ma Enhui seemed to see Zheng He standing on the ship, and she seemed to hear that tsunami-like voice, touching the hearts and inspiring awe.

However, the Emperor did not respond to this memorial.

“The turmoil caused by the Japanese pirates is not ordinary; I dare not make a hasty decision,” Zhu Yunwen said.

He raised his head, set aside the “Romance of the Three Kingdoms,” and then picked up his vermilion brush. He asked Ma Enhui, “What do you think about how to handle this matter?”

Ma Enhui smiled gently, got up, took the vermilion brush from Zhu Yunwen’s hand, and placed it on the inkstone. She spoke softly, “I believe, Your Majesty, that you should rest in the palace now. As for these memorials, we can deal with them tomorrow.”

“What time is it?” Zhu Yunwen asked, looking at the well-lit hall.

“It’s past midnight, Your Majesty. Let’s retire for the night,” Ma Enhui said softly, gently holding Zhu Yunwen’s hand and tilting her head slightly.

Zhu Yunwen looked at the charming Ma Enhui, closed the memorials, and took her hand, saying, “Let’s return to the Kunning Palace.”

The next day,

Zhu Yunwen responded to Zheng He’s report with just one word:

Approved!

He also requested the naval fleet to return Zheng He’s memorial exactly as it was.

While the naval fleet’s ships were flowing downstream, Jin Zhong from Baiyangkou was traveling upstream.

Jin Zhong disguised himself as a merchant interested in buying garrison land, but his gaze was always on the soldiers and officers rather than the land itself. When he saw a lone soldier, he approached and said, “Brother, do you need money? Do you need money?”

The soldier was puzzled by Jin Zhong’s offer, but when he saw the banknotes in Jin Zhong’s hand, he restrained himself and replied, “I’ve sold my farmland, and I’m going back to my hometown in Shandong tomorrow. Who are you?”

Jin Zhong became excited and said, “Brother, returning home at this time, isn’t it a bit too early? We’ve served in the military all our lives. If we don’t receive noble titles soon, how can we bring honor to our ancestors? The court is currently recruiting for the New Army, offering generous benefits. It’s not like ordinary service…”

The soldier looked at his crippled leg and said, “The New Army requires physical fitness. I won’t pass the physical examination. The Emperor, in his kindness, has changed my status to a farmer, so I have land to cultivate back home…”

“Oh, brother, you only know part of the story. The New Army policy is actually divided into two parts: the public and the secret. Openly, they are forming an elite army, training day and night. In secret, they need a group of individuals prepared for contingencies. Think about it, if this garrison is disbanded, who will guard Baiyangkou in the future?”

Jin Zhong continued to persuade, “I observe that your physique is extraordinary, and you must be a skilled warrior. Why not secretly join the New Army’s secret guard? You could earn ten taels of silver per month, much better than going back home to farm, wouldn’t you say?”

“The New Army’s secret guard? I’ve never heard of it.”

“These are confidential matters of the court. How could they be easily disclosed? If it weren’t for our fateful encounter, I wouldn’t have recruited you. Think carefully, whether to continue serving the Great Ming or return to Shandong for farming!”

Jin Zhong took out banknotes, shaking them in his hand.

The soldier stared at the banknotes, his eyes fixed, and quickly reached out to snatch them, hiding them in his chest. He straightened up and said, “I am Wang Er Yue, at your service, sir.”

Jin Zhong hurriedly whispered, “Shh, keep your voice down. Remember, our recruitment for the New Army’s secret guard is confidential. If you leak this information, your head will be on the line!”

The soldier grinned.

The person in front of him is really stupid; he actually recruited himself, a cripple, to join the army. Now there’s a place to eat.

Jin Zhong also laughed.

The person in front of him was quite stupid, thinking he had been recruited into some New Army secret guard. In reality, it was just a ploy to lure him onto the rebels’ ship.

Zhu Gaoxu, oh Zhu Gaoxu, I have no other choice.

Those with good physical fitness have joined the Beiping Garrison, those with average physical fitness insist on going home to be with their wives and children, and I can’t convince them with ideology or money.

The remaining recruits are either misfits or disabled. What other choice do I have?

“Lord Jin, do you see that lone cripple in the field over there, and he’s even a fatty? It looks like he’s an officer. Should we also recruit him?”

A servant pointed at a distant field and whispered to Jin Zhong.

Jin Zhong squinted his eyes and, turning to Wang Er Yue, who had just been recruited, asked, “Is that man a military officer here?”

Wang Er Yue looked and confirmed, “Yes, our battalion commander is a fatty, looking from the back, it’s definitely him.”

Jin Zhong was delighted. If he could recruit a battalion commander and then use him to recruit other soldiers, things would be much easier.

Thinking this way, Jin Zhong didn’t hesitate anymore. He walked briskly toward the fat cripple officer. When he was about five paces away from him, he shouted, “Commander Liang, I have a big deal to discuss with you. May I…”

Jin Zhong’s eyes almost popped out, and he started trembling all over.

“Oh, Jin Zhong, how did you end up here?”

Zhu Gaoxu turned around to look at Jin Zhong, quite surprised.

“Th-this… Your Highness…”

Jin Zhong hurriedly knelt down, and the other servants, who didn’t recognize Zhu Gaochi, also knelt in confusion.

Seeing the vast field full of people kneeling, Zhu Gaochi furrowed his brow, his tone cold, “Get up and speak. What are you doing here?”

Jin Zhong wanted to cry.

Dear heavens, he had been avoiding Ping An, avoiding Sheng Yong, avoiding Zhang Bing, but why hadn’t he considered that Zhu Gaochi might come to Baiyangkou?

This is like they’re trying to play me to death!

“Why aren’t you speaking?”

Zhu Gaochi asked sternly.

Jin Zhong’s thoughts raced, and he quickly raised his head, saying, “Your Highness, we are here on the orders of Prince Gaoyang to purchase garrison land…”

“It seems my little brother has some foresight. In that case, let the 56,000 mu of garrison land in Baiyangkou be registered under Prince Gaoyang’s name. Go arrange the land deeds over there,” commanded Zhu Gaoxu coldly.

Jin Zhong dared not defy Zhu Gaochi. He turned around with a bitter expression, and touched his sleeves, feeling even more miserable, there was hardly any money left, and it was nowhere near enough to buy the garrison land…

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