Chapter 31: A Gathering of Stars! The Leopard-Headed, Round-Eyed Master Mao!

The day arrived, and the great army was about to set out on its expedition.

Zhu Xiongying, Zhu Gaochi, and the other imperial princes and grandsons were roused early and bundled into carriages, heading straight for the military drill grounds in the western suburbs.

Zhu Gaochi remained utterly bewildered. He could not grasp what had possessed Old Zhu to act so erratically—if they wanted to fight a war, that was fine, but why drag him into it? He was only five or six years old; surely they didn't expect him to charge into battle and slay enemies?

The carriage rattled and swayed as it left the city. After traveling for several dozen miles, they finally arrived at the gates of the western suburban encampment. By then, the horizon was already streaked with the pale white of dawn, and the morning light glinted off the banners snapping in the breeze.

Zhu Gaochi swung his short legs and hopped out of the carriage. Outside the gates, a group of armored soldiers stood waiting. Zhu Xiongying, Zhu Quan, and the other imperial scions were already there.

The moment Zhu Xiongying saw Zhu Gaochi, he waved him over. "Gaochi, over here! Hurry up!"

Little chubby Zhu Gaochi scurried over to Zhu Xiongying, but a flicker of irritation suddenly crossed his face. Without warning, he kicked Zhu Xiongying, sending him sprawling face-first into the dirt. Zhu Xiongying stumbled, hit the ground hard, and kicked up a cloud of dust as he braced himself with his hands.

"You damn little rascal, how dare you backstab me?" Zhu Xiongying scrambled up, brushing the dirt off his clothes as he complained, "How was I supposed to know my father would be so impulsive and rush off to discipline you? Are you alright? Did you get a beating?"

Looking into the crown prince's concerned eyes, the fire in Zhu Gaochi’s heart mostly dissipated. He puffed out his chest with a triumphant look. "That old man of yours thinks he can beat me? Hah, it’s not just bragging—"

Before he could finish his sentence, Zhu Quan and Zhu Zhi simultaneously gave him a thumbs-up. Zhu Gaochi hadn't yet realized that several hulking figures had loomed up behind him, a chilling aura of slaughter sweeping across the clearing.

"Little fatty, are you done bragging?" Chang Mao reached out with a hand as large as a palm-leaf fan and hoisted him into the air. He turned the boy over, inspecting him with a playful, mocking grin.

The other generals crowded around. A massive figure stepped forward and stood directly in front of the little fatty, their faces only centimeters apart. The face staring back at him was clear: dark, weathered skin, bulging eyes like copper bells, and a thicket of a beard. It reminded Zhu Gaochi involuntarily of that ring-eyed scoundrel who once halted the waters of Dangyang with a single shout.

He was startled and instinctively took a step back. "You... you are..."

Before he could finish, he felt his body lighten as he was yanked by his collar and dangled in mid-air. He glanced up in a panic and realized the man was holding him up with only one hand. Not content with that, the ring-eyed scoundrel shook him like a piece of laundry, looking utterly bored, as if he had entered a state of complete detachment.

"He really is ridiculously fat. What has that bastard Zhu Di been feeding you? Don't tell me he’s been feeding the kid pig slop every day?" The ring-eyed man scrutinized Zhu Gaochi with the look of a human trafficker.

The remark drew a roar of laughter from the surrounding generals. Zhu Quan and Zhu Zhi were doubled over in hysterics; seeing Zhu Gaochi get taken down a peg was more satisfying to them than anything else.

Seeing Zhu Gaochi being toyed with, Zhu Xiongying couldn't sit still. He stepped forward and tugged on the ring-eyed man's sleeve. "Uncle, could you please put him down?"

*Uncle?*

This dog-meat-eating scoundrel was Chang Mao?

Zhu Gaochi finally realized who it was. The leopard-headed, ring-eyed Master Mao, the eldest son of Chang Yuchun—the most formidable fighter among the second generation of Ming nobility!

Dammit, he was supposed to be a man of some stature; why did he act like a common bandit?

"Ring-eyed scoundrel, put me down at once!" Zhu Gaochi roared in anger, which only made Chang Mao laugh even harder.

Lan Yu stepped forward and cautioned, "I say, Chang Mao, you’d better be careful. This little fatty is poisonous!"

"The battle plan for the Yunnan expedition was the idea this kid gave to His Majesty!"

"What?" Chang Mao was taken aback. He widened his eyes and scrutinized Zhu Gaochi once more before tossing him onto the ground like a sack of grain, muttering, "Sure enough, just like that bastard Zhu Di, nothing good about him!"

Zhu Gaochi’s backside stung from the impact, and he jumped up, ready to fight for his life against Chang Mao. Just then, a synchronized shout came from behind.

"Greetings, Great General!"

There was no need to wonder; hearing the voice, Zhu Gaochi knew it was Fu Youde, the current top-ranking general of the military.

As the likes of Xu Da and Li Wenzhong grew old, the Ming military had undergone a generational shift under Old Zhu's careful arrangement, and the most brilliant of them all was undoubtedly the Marquis of Yingchuan, Fu Youde!

Fu Youde had emerged from the rebel armies of the late Yuan dynasty, joining Old Zhu's ranks after years of wandering. Later serving under the fierce general Chang Yuchun, he participated in countless campaigns, earning legendary merit. After Chang Yuchun’s death, he followed Xu Da on multiple northern expeditions, becoming a top-tier commander with a distinguished record. This Yunnan expedition was the first time he had been granted the seal of Great General to lead a campaign.

Zhu Gaochi turned to look. Fu Youde was clad in iron armor, his exceptionally hulking frame radiating a sharp, invisible pressure. He was like a blade just drawn from its sheath, the biting edge enough to make one’s skin crawl.

In this era, the Ming Dynasty was still in its prime, filled with renowned generals. While the original twenty-four generals from Huai-Xi were either dead or aged, the successors—such as Fu Youde, Lan Yu, and Mu Ying—were all talents capable of holding their own. It was truly precious to see such a vibrant era continue to thrive.

The soldiers outside the gate bowed and shouted, "Greetings, Great General!"

In the Ming Dynasty, the title "Great General" had previously been reserved for Xu Da alone, but over the years, the prestige Fu Youde had accumulated in the army was enough to rival Xu Da's.

Fu Youde gave a faint nod, his expression solemn as he stretched out his arms. "At ease, generals."

The soldiers straightened up and moved respectfully into two lines, clearing a wide path for him. Seeing this, Zhu Gaochi couldn't help but gasp inwardly. This was the true aura and prestige of a peerless general!

"What are you all chatting about?" Fu Youde asked, looking curiously at Chang Mao, Lan Yu, and the little fatty they had been teasing.

Before they could speak, Zhu Gaochi darted in front of Fu Youde.

"Great General, this Chang Mao is no good! He had the nerve to bully me! Please, give him a beating!"

As soon as these words were out, the generals looked at each other and burst into uncontrollable laughter. The leopard-headed, ring-eyed Master Mao was laughing so hard tears were streaming down his face.

"Fine, fine, you little fatty, so you're going to tattle, are you? Today I want to see who can protect you!"

As he spoke, Chang Mao reached out to grab Zhu Gaochi, but was parried by a palm from Guo Ying.

"Enough, why are you picking on a child?"

"Oh, ho? Guo the Second, are you looking to spar with me?" Chang Mao sneered.

Lan Yu stood on the sidelines, gleefully stoking the flames. "Guo the Second, this guy clearly doesn't respect you at all! If it were me, I wouldn't be able to stand for this!"

Guo Ying glared coldly at Lan Yu. "You're no good either. If you aren't convinced, why don't you join this dumb donkey and come at me together?"

Seeing this, Zhu Gaochi was delighted. Another person with a faint smile on his lips was Mu Ying. Among the many famous generals gathered, Mu Ying was the youngest, and since these others were all battle-hardened veterans, Mu Ying had only truly come into his own after pacifying Yunnan. In terms of military seniority, he was just a hair behind.

There was a reason the generals traded barbs whenever they met. Ever since Old Zhu was the Prince of Wu, they had been competing for command, for merit, for spoils of war, for titles, and for rewards. They had spent half their lives bickering and accumulating grudges; it was only natural they had nothing kind to say to each other.

A few heated words later, it looked as if a brawl was about to break out. Zhu Gaochi was ecstatic! Such a scene was truly a rare sight in this world.

Unfortunately, Fu Youde spoke up, his voice cold and impatient. "If you all want to fight, do it now. If you kill each other, I'll take care of the burials."

At these words, the generals immediately fell silent. After all, Fu Youde had the highest seniority in the army and now held the seal of Great General; no one dared to ignore his command.

"Tsk, tsk, what a pity," Zhu Gaochi muttered to himself in a voice full of regret, his eyes still lingering on the scene, unsatisfied.

The generals: "???"