The Ming Dynasty: I Fabricated Dreams for Zhu Di 42

Chapter 42: You’re Unusually Composed for a Young Man

“Then, by the way, teach him a lesson for us.”

“As long as he doesn’t die, anything goes.”

Xu Da was a general I personally trained; his abilities are slightly less than mine.

However, it’s more than enough to teach Zhu Di.

Later, Zhu Di will be granted a fiefdom, his responsibility being to guard the Great Ming border, so his military capabilities cannot be lacking.

But in the Capital City, he doesn’t diligently study military strategy and martial arts. I’ve scolded him, punished him.

Nothing works.

As the Emperor of the Great Ming, I can’t always focus on Zhu Di.

Fortunately, Zhu Di and Xu Miaoyun are childhood sweethearts, and Xu Miaoyun is Xu Da’s eldest daughter.

Their marriage unites them, making Xu Da Zhu Di’s father-in-law.

Xu Da’s garrison happens to be in Beiping, the same as Zhu Di’s fiefdom.

With Xu Da personally instructing him, even if Zhu Di is a lump of mud, he can still be molded into shape.

“This…”

Hearing Zhu Yuanzhang’s words, if it were before, he would have certainly agreed.

In fact, Zhu Di’s fiefdom being set in Beiping is simply because I’m stationed in Beiping.

It can also be considered Zhu Yuanzhang’s intentional arrangement.

Although he doesn’t particularly like this son-in-law, he is, after all, his son-in-law, a prince.

Giving him some instruction isn’t a problem.

But the key is that the current Zhu Di is completely different from the Zhu Di of the past.

The aura about him, like a veteran general who has fought countless battles, already possesses the ability to stand alone.

He no longer needs my personal instruction.

“What? Is there a problem?”

“Your Majesty, in fact, His Highness the Yan King already possesses the ability to stand alone; there’s no need for me to instruct him.”

“What do you mean?”

Hearing Xu Da’s words, Zhu Yuanzhang stood up, looking at Xu Da in a somewhat bewildered manner.

A few months ago, at the Fengyang military exercises, Zhu Di’s overall ability assessment was the lowest.

How come now, in Xu Da’s mouth, he has the ability to stand alone?

Xu Da thought for a moment, then began to recount yesterday’s events.

“Your Majesty, yesterday His Highness the Yan King came to my residence.”

“At that time, I sensed something was off about him.”

“Later, I insulted the Fourth Son verbally, hoping to shame him into improvement.”

“Unexpectedly, the Fourth Son directly challenged me, wanting me to retract those insulting words.”

Zhu Yuanzhang’s expression remained calm.

“And then?”

He didn’t care about Xu Da verbally insulting Zhu Di.

After all, no one wants to see their son-in-law incompetent, hoping for improvement through shame.

This is something I often say to my princes.

Only by applying sufficient pressure can one provide sufficient motivation.

I used this teaching method on Zhu Biao, so Xu Da using this method to teach Zhu Di is not a problem either.

“You beat up the Fourth Son?”

Although Xu Da has not personally engaged in close combat for many years, generals always maintain their physical fitness.

Without a good physique, it’s difficult to support high-intensity marching, especially for people like Xu Da and Li Wen Zhong.

They were all people accustomed to seizing opportunities, and seizing opportunities requires rapid marches, which in turn require a strong physique.

Coupled with his past battlefield experience, it would be very easy for Xu Da to deal with the Fourth Son.

Xu Da is only in his forties this year, not yet fifty, still in his prime.

“No, I naturally wouldn’t fight a junior myself.”

Winning would be bullying a junior.

Losing would be somewhat embarrassing.

“I let Yungong compete with him.”

“Yungong is a good child. I remember, a few months ago at the Fengyang military exercises, the Fourth Son lost to Yungong.”

For these meritorious officials, and their capable eldest sons, he had a good impression of them.

Li Wen Zhong’s eldest son Li Jinglong, Mu Ying’s eldest son Mu Chun, Xu Da’s eldest son Xu Yungong, and Wu Liang’s eldest son Wu Gao, etc.

Among them, Xu Yungong’s personality was also one he preferred.

Calm, steady.

Among the second generation of meritorious officials, he was among the best.

The only downside is that he’s a bit stubborn, sticking to his principles.

“That’s right, at the last Fengyang military exercises, Yungong was fourth, while the Fourth Son was last.”

“In the martial arts competition, Yungong won easily. Now, a few months have passed,”

“The outcome is vastly different.”

Vastly different?

Zhu Yuanzhang pondered, could it be that the Fourth Son has become enlightened? Secretly worked hard, and then surprised everyone?

“You mean, Yungong lost to the Fourth Son?”

Xu Da nodded.

“It wasn’t a loss, but a complete defeat.”

Zhu Biao, who was standing beside him, showed a slightly surprised expression.

“A complete defeat?”

If he understood correctly, this word means a crushing defeat, without any pressure.

He also went to the Fengyang military exercises last time.

Although he didn’t participate, he watched every match.

The most unbearable to watch was Xu Yungong versus Zhu Di, Zhu Di was knocked down in a few moves.

Completely helpless.

Only a few months have passed, how could it be a complete reversal?

Moreover… recalling what the Fourth Son said to him a few days ago.

He doesn’t want to go to his fiefdom.

It feels unreasonable.

Zhu Biao was a little confused.

He originally thought that Zhu Di didn’t want to go to his fiefdom because his martial arts skills were not very good, his military capabilities were not good, so he wanted to be a carefree prince in the Capital City.

He was ready to tell Zhu Yuanzhang about this and mediate.

Then you tell me… Zhu Di’s martial arts are superb?

“Yes, whether it’s combat skills or fighting ability, the Fourth Son far surpasses Yungong and those other young people who haven’t been on the battlefield.”

“Even, I feel… the pressure of the Fourth Son’s aura is no weaker than mine.”

“To describe it in one sentence,”

Xu Da looked towards Zhu Yuanzhang.

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded: “Go ahead.”

“His Highness the Yan King doesn’t look like a teenager, but rather like a battle-hardened veteran.”

This sentence may be hard to believe.

But the feeling Zhu Di gave him was that of an old general.

Whether in behavior or demeanor, the aura about him seemed to say:

Zhu Di is not a young man.

Zhu Yuanzhang was somewhat surprised by Xu Da’s words.

“Tiande, are you sure you’re not talking nonsense?”

How old is Zhu Di this year? A battle-hardened veteran? Impossible.

The Fourth Son hasn’t even stepped onto a battlefield.

Even a few months ago, his behavior was like a child, and in a few months he became a veteran general?

Xu Da said seriously: “If I have uttered a single false word, I will allow Your Majesty to punish me as you see fit.”

Zhu Yuanzhang quickly waved his hand: “It’s not necessary.”

“I believe you.”

Xu Da would never joke about such a matter, and moreover, he is willing to swear on it.

This is enough to show that this is what Xu Da truly thinks.

“Yungong is still sitting in a wheelchair now; if the Fourth Son hadn’t held back, Yungong might have spent the rest of his life in bed.”

At this time, Xu Da added a sentence.

Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhu Biao exchanged a glance.

This Zhu Lao Si (Fourth Zhu) really has changed so much?

Zhu Biao was also considering whether he should speak up for Zhu Di.

Being able to defeat Xu Yungong.

Gaining Xu Da’s recognition, it is enough to show that Zhu Di is already capable of shouldering the responsibilities of a feudal prince.

Staying in the Capital City would be a waste of Zhu Di’s abilities.

(End of Chapter)

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