Chapter 62 Performing Arts on the Streets

Seeing how easily his grandson compromised with him, Zhu Xiongying was truly a bit surprised.

Then, a cunning smile appeared at the corners of his mouth as he said, "Your Imperial Grandfather doesn't need to be too troubled. Just give me three to five thousand men will do!"

Puff!

Upon hearing this number, the tea Zhu Yuanzhu had just taken into his mouth was directly sprayed out.

His pupils constricted and he said in exasperation, "My eldest grandson, do you know what this number signifies?"

"Naturally, it signifies that Great Ming will have one more invincible army." With that, Zhu Xiongying drew a blueprint from his bosom and spread it flat on the table.

He continued, "The two mineral veins marked on this not only can alleviate the shortage of iron resources in Great Ming, but can also smelt fine steel. That is why I have the idea to form a Divine Machine Camp equipped entirely with firearms."

The heavyweight officials did not pay much attention to the imperial grandson's idea.

One by one, they cast their gazes directly onto the blueprint, staring fixedly at the layout of the mineral veins, and began to draw in sharp breaths of cold air one after the other.

Feng Sheng extended a finger in disbelief, trembling as he spoke, "Your Imperial Grandfather's Imperial Grandson, this... this... mineral vein... gulp..."

"There is no need to be so surprised. The output of these two mineral veins is sufficient for Great Ming to mine for a hundred years, but as for the candidates for mining and the smelting technology... you all understand!" As Zhu Xiongying spoke, he reached out and gestured across the map.

Then, looking back at Zhu Yuanzhu, he said with resolute and ringing tones, "I want these three to five thousand men. Aside from daily training, they must also be responsible for guarding the mining sites and forging firearms. As for the requirements for them, there is only one: they must be utterly loyal to Great Ming!"

Zhu Yuanzhu stared at the blueprint and pondered for a moment. He raised his aged face and smiled bitterly, "My eldest grandson, you need not worry about the matter of loyalty, but isn't this number a bit too large? How about I give you three thousand men, entirely at your disposal?"

"Very well!" Zhu Xiongying agreed readily without even thinking.

Just as everyone breathed a sigh of relief, the little fellow's words startled them severely once again: "Imperial Grandfather, these three thousand men can only obey my commands alone. Otherwise, if any losses are caused in the future, Imperial Grandfather will have cause to regret it deeply!"

Hearing such a statement, Zhu Yuanzhu was instantly left not knowing whether to laugh or cry.

After hesitating for a moment, he said again, "What does my darling grandson think if I let Lan Yu personally lead the troops?"

Upon hearing this, Lan Yu instantly puffed out his chest and hurriedly stepped forward, saying, "This subordinate is willing to obey the imperial grandson's dispatch! I will never let His Majesty's expectations down!"

Zhu Xiongying knew that wanting his Imperial Grandfather to completely relinquish supreme authority to him right now was somewhat unrealistic.

He could only nod in agreement and said, "When I have some leisure these next few days, I will formulate a set of implementation plans, and then I will ask Imperial Grandfather for your guidance."

Zhu Yuanzhu understood that this was a reassuring pill his eldest grandson was giving him, and he repeatedly expressed that he would wait for him at any time.

Three days later.

The imperial court's mining of the new mineral veins had been placed under a gag order by Zhu Yuanzhu, so not the slightest whisper of it had leaked out.

However, the matter of the Emperor promising three thousand elite troops to the imperial grandson Zhu Xiongying spread like wildfire.

When the Lü family learned of this news, they summoned the main pillars of the family back overnight.

Lü Mo even smashed the jade ornaments he used to curry favor with his concubines into smithereens, roaring, "Has His Majesty lost his mind? How could he agree to such an unreasonable request? Is he not afraid that that brat will rebel?"

"Silence...!"

Lü Ben's expression changed abruptly, and then he gnashed his teeth as he said, "That brat has His Majesty backing him; we must temporarily avoid the sharp edge! Even if there is resentment in our hearts, we must endure it!"

"Endure?" Lü Mo showed extreme unwillingness and continued, "Endure until his wings are fully grown? Will there still be a path of survival for our Lü family by then?"

Lü Ben narrowed his eyes slightly and lowered his voice, "Over the past few days, the Prince of Yan, Zhu Di, and the Lin Family Winery have both had friction with that brat. Perhaps we..."

Lü Mo's eyes grew brighter and brighter, and he raised a thumb, saying, "Well said. An enemy's enemy is a friend. If the Lin family is willing to step forward in a matter like this, it can save a lot of trouble!"

"As long as you understand. In the future, use your brain more when doing things, and do not act out of impulse!" Being able to understand his meaning satisfied Lü Ben greatly, and in the end, he still did not forget to offer a word of guidance to his younger brother.

...

The Lin Family Winery.

After losing its designation as the imperial tribute wine, it plunged completely into the abyss.

Even with lower prices, the commoners within the city still refused to buy.

For such a massive family enterprise, not the slightest breath of life could be seen.

The head of the family, Lin Wannian, knelt before Zhu Di with tears and snot streaming down his face, crying out, "Your Highness the Prince of Yan, the imperial grandson has destroyed my family business. This humble subordinate begs you to uphold justice for me!"

With utter disgust, Zhu Di kicked him away, terrified that the fellow's snot would smear onto his robe hem.

Looking down from above, he said, "This Prince has heard that you secretly colluded with the Lü family in a vain attempt to impeach the imperial grandson?"

Lin Wannian was instantly frightened out of his wits. If this charge were confirmed, his Lin family would never have a chance of turning things around.

He hurriedly defended himself, "May Your Highness the Prince of Yan examine this clearly. This humble subordinate was coerced by that Lü Mo and had no choice; as long as Your Highness can help this humble subordinate win back the tribute wine designation, this humble subordinate's life is yours, and the entire Lin family is willing to go through fire and water for Your Highness!"

Zhu Di was quite satisfied with Lin Wannian's attitude and picked up a teacup nearby to play with it.

A moment later, a grim smile appeared at the corners of his mouth as he said, "Then this Prince will give you a chance. In the next few days, the Hongwu Winery will send a batch of tribute wine into the palace. When the time comes, you lead men to snatch the wine back."

"Snatch... snatch the imperial grandson's wine?" Lin Wannian was extremely surprised, failing to understand what the purpose of doing so would be.

However, thinking of the three thousand elite troops dispatched by the Emperor, he shuddered for no reason and hurriedly said, "But he has those three thousand..."

Zhu Di directly waved his hand to interrupt, shouting coldly, "Lan Yu is currently intensely training those three thousand soldiers; where would he have the time to bother with such trivial matters?"

Then he drew a paper parcel from his bosom and said, "This is an exotic poison from foreign lands. It will not take a person's life, but it can cause someone to fall into a deep sleep for three days. Do you understand?"

Lin Wannian was overjoyed on the spot, seeing the chance to turn the tables right before his eyes, and patted his chest to guarantee, "Your Highness, rest assured! This humble subordinate will surely handle the matter splendidly!"

The next day, at dusk.

Several carriages headed toward the imperial palace.

Lin Wannian and his trusted aides hid on both sides of the street, waiting for the arrival of the carriage convoy.

When the convoy entered within five meters of their attack range, Lin Wannian hurriedly scattered the poisonous powder toward the convoy.

At the same time, he gave the order: "Attack!"

And then he took the lead, charging forward with a saber in hand.

What he never expected, however, was that the person who shouted the loudest was him, and the person who charged the fastest was still Lin Wannian himself.

As for those trusted aides who had hidden themselves away, they had long since vanished without a trace.

"Well, well!"

"Is the Family Head Lin performing street arts?"

"Has the business of the Lin Family Winery deteriorated to such a degree now?"

Following Zhu Xiongying's teasing voice, the coachman responsible for escorting the tribute wine pulled out a fire-tube gun directly from the carriage, aiming it straight at Lin Wannian.

Gasp!

This scene made Lin Wannian's vision go dark instantly, and he hurriedly threw the steel saber in his hand onto the ground.

He asked in incomprehension, "You... why are you here?"