Chapter 14: War Breaks Out Suddenly! I'll Sell It to You for a Thousand Taels!

The afternoon sunlight filtered through the rustic window bars, casting its glow upon the training ground where Zhu Gaochi was practicing his deep squat stance. Behind him stood a group of young disciples, all maintaining their stances.

The temperature was steadily rising, and a fine layer of sweat beaded on Zhu Gaochi’s forehead.

More than a month had passed since the incident at the Grand Hall. Under Guo Ying’s rigorous training, these young ones had all begun to wail and complain.

Zhu Gaochi had deliberately put them through this ordeal—not only to find training partners for himself but genuinely hoping they could persevere and become well-rounded individuals, skilled both in literature and martial arts.

As for Guo Ying’s grudge against this, what did it have to do with Zhu Gaochi?

“Good-for-nothing!” Guo Ying slammed his foot firmly into Zhu Quan’s backside, his anger flaring.

The boy had started to slack off mid-stance, intentionally or not shifting his balance upward, his clenched fists loosening. The instant Guo Ying turned, Zhu Quan even bent down, clutching his knees as if to rest.

A fierce warrior from countless battles, Guo Ying’s senses were sharp and vigilant. He had noticed the boy’s laxity in the corner of his eye. Without hesitation, as Zhu Quan leaned on his knees, Guo Ying delivered a swift kick.

Zhu Quan’s backside had not fully healed from previous injuries. The sudden blow made him grit his teeth in pain. Weakened by standing, he momentarily struggled to rise again. Under everyone’s watchful gaze, tears streamed down his face.

Yet he dared not cry out, forced to get up and resume his stance.

Seeing this, Guo Ying shook his head in resignation but grew even more confident in Zhu Gaochi.

Why?

Because this young man was relentless.

Since he began martial training, no matter how tired or in pain Zhu Gaochi was—even limping—he never allowed his posture to falter. He even taunted himself, pushing for stricter discipline.

Thinking this, Guo Ying found his expectations of Zhu Gaochi rising.

Following his gaze, Zhu Gaochi had finished his stance and now began sprinting back and forth. The benefits of a stable lower body were evident; the shifting center of gravity during his runs was smooth and fluid, almost like flowing water.

After a month of intense training, the once chubby Zhu Gaochi had shed five pounds. He had not restricted his diet; his relentless exercise aimed not merely at losing weight but forging a strong, tough physique like Jin Bing’s—a fierce warrior.

Amid the cries and groans of the other disciples, today’s martial practice finally ended. Exhausted, they collapsed to the ground, then were escorted away by their guards.

Zhu Gaochi, however, continued training on his own. Seeing this, Zhu Xiongying couldn’t help but intervene.

“Gaochi, everything in moderation!”

“My father always reminded me—train, yes, but never to the point of injury. Otherwise…”

Hearing this, Zhu Gaochi burst into laughter.

“Didn’t Old Guo give you the recipe for the medicinal bath?”

Zhu Xiongying: “???”

What the hell? There’s actually such a thing as a medicinal bath?

No wonder the boy was so energetic every day, like he’d swallowed a magical elixir!

Seeing Zhu Xiongying’s face redden with frustration, Zhu Gaochi quickly realized the misunderstanding. But he wasn’t a fool; since Old Guo hadn’t mentioned it, he certainly wouldn’t share the secret.

After a moment’s silence, Zhu Xiongying cursed Old Guo fiercely.

Then the two brothers lay back and chatted, and Zhu Xiongying suddenly brought up something.

“Speaking of which, Old Guo won’t have much time to bother with us anymore. From what I hear, my father’s about to launch a campaign!”

“Hm? A campaign?” Zhu Gaochi’s interest piqued. “The Northern Expedition?”

After the death of the puppet emperor of the Northern Yuan, the Ming capital was shaken. The long-dormant Northern Expedition was once again on the agenda.

Though the Yuan dynasty lost control over the Central Plains, it still ruled vast northern grasslands. Many regions like Shanxi, Shaanxi, Sichuan, Yunnan, and Guizhou remained under Yuan control. The Ming constantly felt threatened, thus Zhu Di launched repeated northern campaigns.

Until last year, generals like Xu Da and Tang He continued leading forces beyond the frontier, gradually eradicating Yuan remnants.

Zhu Xiongying shook his head with a smile.

“It’s not a northern expedition but a southern campaign. The emperor does want to seize the moment to strike north, taking advantage of the Northern Yuan’s unstable transition and wavering loyalty. But after our disastrous defeat in Lingbei, where we lost many warhorses, we lost the qualification to penetrate deep into the northern desert. So we have to eliminate threats in the south first.”

Hearing this, Zhu Gaochi immediately understood.

Apart from the Northern Yuan in the desert, the Ming’s biggest troubles lay in two places: the Nahachu clan in Liaodong and the Yuan Liang king occupying Yunnan.

After the Mongols withdrew from Yunnan, the Yuan Liang king held fast, recognizing the northern Yuan as the legitimate dynasty. Each year, he sent envoys to pay respects to the Northern Yuan emperor, maintaining the traditional rituals. He repeatedly refused Ming overtures and even executed Ming envoys, showing a resolute stance.

Without warhorses, deep desert campaigns were impossible, but reclaiming Yunnan from the south was not a difficult task.

Zhu Gaochi’s eyes lit up. Yunnan was a fine place—the women there were beautiful!

However, Yunnan was rugged, densely forested, and plagued with miasma. The imperial army would find it no easy feat to conquer.

In ancient warfare, human lives were the price—“The merciful do not command armies” was no empty saying.

Thinking this, Zhu Gaochi’s interest grew.

“Brother Ying, want to make a name for yourself?”

Zhu Xiongying was momentarily stunned and instinctively looked at Zhu Gaochi.

“You do know military strategy?”

Of course!

My father is Zhu Di!

I’ve seen it all!

Zhu Gaochi grinned and said, “Here’s your chance to shine before the emperor. Price is non-negotiable—a thousand taels!”

At once, Zhu Xiongying roared, “Why the hell don’t you go grab it yourself?”

“Besides, where would I get the money? The Eastern Palace is managed by the prince’s concubine!”

The concubine he referred to was Lady Lü, the prince’s favored consort and Zhu Yunwen’s birth mother.

Zhu Gaochi chuckled, “You can ask the emperor for the funds. This plan greatly reduces casualties among our soldiers. A thousand taels isn’t much.”

Zhu Xiongying hesitated, suspicion creasing his face as he looked at Zhu Gaochi.

“Why do you need that much money?”

“Because of the medicinal bath. I owe the Imperial Medical Bureau three thousand taels!” Zhu Gaochi said plaintively.

Was it easy for him?

He was practically bankrupt from trying to strengthen his body.

Of course, this chubby boy had little wealth to begin with.

That idiot Xu Zengshou had given him the recipe but never invented the glass mirror, so Zhu Gaochi was pressured by Dai Sigong for repayment. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have thought of pinning the idea on Zhu Xiongying.

“Tell me your plan first. If it works, I’ll give you a thousand taels. As your brother, I’ll help you out this once!” Zhu Xiongying replied gleefully.

Zhu Gaochi did not hold back, explaining his idea step by step.

Zhu Xiongying was amazed and immediately dragged him off to seek an audience with the emperor.