Chapter 48: A Letter Arrives! Xu Da’s Doubts!

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The military camp in Beiping was swept by a biting north wind, the banners snapping fiercely in the chill air. General Xu Da was inspecting the camp defenses.

He was a man of stern demeanor, his temples graying slightly, with a strong, square face framed by a full beard. His commanding presence was something ordinary men could barely imitate.

Though no longer young, Xu Da remained an unyielding fortress, a towering mountain, a blade capable of cutting through wind and snow.

Just last year, when the Northern Yuan’s Prime Minister Nai’er Buhua led an invasion into the southern borders of the Ming, Xu Da once again took command. At Huishan, he dealt a crushing defeat to the Yuan forces, capturing key figures like Bieli Buhua and Taishi Wentong. This victory severely weakened the Northern Yuan’s strength in the northern desert, deterring them from any further border incursions for a long time.

Now, the imperial court was launching a southern campaign into Yunnan, aiming to eliminate the Yuan Liang King. Should this succeed, the Ming’s only external threat would be the Naha forces entrenched in Liaodong.

Xu Da exhaled deeply at this thought. Years of warfare had worn him down, body and soul. Adding to his burden was a persistent abscess on his back that caused him constant agony. He longed to lay down his arms and live a peaceful life.

Yet the Ming border was still unsettled, and the emperor held him in great esteem, entrusting him with heavy responsibilities. He had no choice but to muster his strength, hoist the banner, and continue laboring tirelessly for the realm.

“This time, Fu Youde will lead the campaign. Once Yunnan is pacified, he will likely be promoted to Duke, and then I can finally retire,” Xu Da murmured to himself, his thoughts drifting afar.

At that moment, a voice came from behind.

“General, there is a letter from home.”

Xu Da halted and turned to see the messenger.

The man was tall and sturdy, his iron armor outlining a broad, inverted triangle physique. His face was resolute and stern, eyes bright and piercing. Not exactly handsome in a refined way, yet far more masculine than Li Jinglong. His sharply arched brows were like blades, and his speech rang like clashing swords.

This was Xu Da’s eldest legitimate son, Xu Yungong, known as “Little Xu Da.”

Now serving in the army himself, Xu Yungong respected the principle of “no father and son in the ranks,” addressing his father formally as “General.”

Xu Da looked at his son with a warm smile full of affection and pride. Taking the letter from Xu Yungong, he asked with a grin before opening it, “What’s that third boy saying this time?”

Xu Yungong’s expression shifted slightly, a little uneasy. After hesitating, he said, “General, you should read it yourself. The content of the third boy’s letter is utterly unbelievable!”

Xu Da’s gaze sharpened instantly, sensing something amiss. He quickly tore open the letter and eagerly scanned its contents.

Xu Zengshou had recounted everything recent that had transpired in the capital in meticulous detail.

When Xu Da read that Empress Ma’s stubborn illness had been cured, a look of genuine joy spread across his face. He was truly happy for Her Majesty.

But when he learned that the healer was none other than Zhu Gaochi, the chubby little grandson of Xu Da, his eyes widened in astonishment.

The letter went on to describe how Zhu Gaochi had proactively sought out Xu Zengshou and, together with the Wei Duke’s household, had embarked on a business producing colored-glass mirrors, as well as the astonishing military device known as the “Thousand-Mile Mirror”…

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After finishing the secret letter, Xu Da felt his mind spinning, barely able to grasp what he had just read. He instinctively looked to Xu Yungong and asked, “Do you think this could be true?”

Xu Yungong shook his head with a wry smile and replied honestly, “If the third boy hadn’t written so convincingly and with such certainty, I wouldn’t believe it for a second. Gaochi is just a half-grown child. How could he have accomplished all this? First curing Empress Ma, then inventing colored glass, and that miraculous thousand-mile mirror... This kid is almost too extraordinary for his age.”

Xu Da’s lips curled into a knowing smile. “True or not, we’ll know when we return to the capital. If the thousand-mile mirror is real, His Majesty should send some to the northern frontier. How could Fu Youde be left out of such a privilege?”

Xu Yungong’s heart stirred as he immediately understood his father’s decision.

“I will report this to the capital at once, General. Shall I request your leave to return?”

“Yes, claim it’s a family visit. No need to make waves in the city.”

Xu Da waved a hand, his gaze still fixed on the letter.

Beyond those matters, Xu Zengshou’s letter also emphasized that Zhu Gaochi seemed to be deliberately reaching out to Zhu Xiong Ying, fostering friendship even, and was willing to share a ten percent profit with him.

Upon reading this, Xu Da’s expression grew grave. He fully understood Zhu Xiong Ying’s special status: not just any child, but the crown prince’s eldest legitimate son, the future heir to the Ming throne.

And this half-grown boy, not yet fully grown, was already maneuvering to assist Zhu Xiong Ying’s rise?

Xu Da felt a mix of irritation and amusement. He threw the letter fiercely into the burning charcoal nearby, flames flaring up as if excited by this sudden “visitor.”

Bah! What nonsense!

Zhu Di is a scoundrel, and his son is a little scoundrel too.

That cunning streak is exactly like Miaoyun.

What a pity that it benefits that scoundrel Zhu Di!

And here I am, the grandfather, forced to go back to the capital and clean up their mess. Such damned rogues!

After a moment, Xu Yungong entered the room.

“General, should we inform… Miaoyun about this?”

Hearing this, Xu Da thought of his daughter and son-in-law still in Beiping and fell into deep contemplation.

Prince Yan Zhu Di had, in the ninth year of the Hongwu reign, taken Xu Miaoyun as his primary consort. She had come to Beiping with him in the thirteenth year and remained there to this day.

Xu Da was ordered to oversee Beiping and kept a watchful eye on this son-in-law’s every move.

Fortunately, Zhu Di was relatively honest, displaying no suspicious or unlawful acts in his fiefdom. The Prince of Yan had earned a reputation for being virtuous.

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“Not yet. For now, don’t disclose any information.”

After much thought, Xu Da decided to withhold the news from them until he personally returned to the capital to verify the truth.

After all, as the General and a father-in-law to a vassal prince, this relationship was delicate. Xu Da wished to avoid unnecessary complications that might arouse the emperor’s suspicion.

It must be remembered that these princes like Zhu Di were no mere figureheads. Each commanded a small army known as their “guards,” ranging from three thousand to fifteen thousand men.

Officially, princes were forbidden from interfering in local affairs.

But in emergencies, they could mobilize the troops stationed in their domain. Whenever battles took place, the princes led their guards into the field. Even generals like Xu Da sometimes had to submit to the princes’ authority.

This was the emperor’s political stratagem!

The late emperor had insisted on fiefdoms for the princes and granted them command over troops to gradually wrest military power from the generals.

Ultimately, old Zhu still didn’t trust those comrades-in-arms who had fought by his side all these years.

Thinking of this, Xu Da felt disheartened. His desire to retire grew stronger.

Perhaps on this trip back to the capital, citing his aching back, he could petition the emperor once more.

A complex light flickered in Xu Da’s eyes as he slowly sat down, the chair creaking under his weight.

He reached into the stove and grabbed a glowing ember, squeezing it forcefully. With a sharp crack, the coal shattered, sparks flying like the turmoil in his heart.

“On April 16th this year, His Majesty renamed the Yiluan Office the Jinyiwei!”

“That has become a sharp blade hanging over the heads of all officials!” Xu Da’s voice was tinged with worry and helplessness.

Xu Yungong’s expression also shifted slightly, his thoughts racing yet cautious to speak.

Xu Da’s look became somewhat dazed before he shook his head with a bitter smile.

“My son, it’s time for your old father to lay down his arms and retire.”