"The Thirteenth Master has a good memory. I was promoted to Captain Wujie the year before last!" Qiu Hong was extremely humble.
Zhu Jinghong nodded and motioned to Yinglian to pour tea.
"In this case, it's time to be promoted to the fourth rank... right?" Zhu Jinghong asked calmly.
Qiu Hong laughed twice, with a bitter look on his face: "The Thirteenth Master clearly knows how difficult it is to be promoted across grades!"
In fact, he was promoted to the rank of general with real power in his thirties, making him a leader among his peers.
But above the fifth rank, the number of official positions with real power decreases sharply, and they are still a carrot and a pit, so it is naturally very difficult to get promoted.
"This thing...is hard to say, but easy to say...it's actually quite simple!"
Zhu Jinghong was eating cakes while talking, looking particularly relaxed and comfortable, but Qiu Hong didn't think he was joking.
These days, he has also seen clearly that the prince relies heavily on Zhu Jinghong, and he has the final say in all affairs in Jinling.
"Please ask Master Thirteen to clarify my doubts!"
"You are a very smart person, but why are you so ineffective at the critical moment?"
"I am stupid!"
Not wanting to talk nonsense, Zhu Jinghong immediately said: "My Ming Dynasty has always made clear rewards and punishments. Now that you have led your troops to the capital camp, all you have to do is make meritorious deeds!"
"As long as you have military merit and the friendship between you and me, I will give you a few kind words when I return to the capital. Why don't the old man just reward you with a fourth rank?"
Although he was in his thirties, Qiu Hong couldn't help but get excited when he heard this beautiful vision.
"Master Thirteen, are you willing to help me?" Qiu Hong stood up again, bowed his waist and saluted Zhu Jinghong, his expression full of hope.
Signing for Qiu Hong to sit down again, Zhu Jinghong continued: "You know what the situation is like in Jinling now. The officers and soldiers along the coast not only have to encircle and suppress Japanese pirates, but also guard against Japanese pirates attacking from the sea. The troops are stretched thin!"
"If you are sent to the front line to assist the guard army in exterminating the Japanese pirates, it will be easy to achieve meritorious service!"
To make meritorious service in war, this was Qiu Hong's idea when he came to Jinling, but it was a pity that the prince never mentioned this matter after arriving in Yingtian.
"What Thirteenth Master means is..."
"What I mean is that I recommend that you lead your troops to the east and help the guards to eliminate the Japanese pirates!"
In other words, after he came to Jinling, Qiu Hong could finally lead his troops into battle.
Qiu Hong was so excited that he immediately asked: "Your Highness, why don't you let Yang Renzhong go with you? In this way, we will occupy the north and the south respectively, and the chance of victory in annihilating the Japanese pirates will be greater!"
The reason for not making this arrangement is that temporary food adjustments cannot support large-scale military operations, and replenishing the front line requires hard work from various places.
Yang Renzhong leads the infantry, which has relatively less logistical pressure. It seems objectively more reasonable for him to go to the front line.
The reason why Zhu Jinghong chose Qiu Hong was because of the mobility of his cavalry, which was undoubtedly more effective in defending the long coast.
Of course, Zhu Jinghong would not tell these truths.
"What's the relationship between you and me? If something good happens, you must let your own people go first. You don't understand this principle?" Zhu Jinghong asked angrily.
Qiu Hong quickly apologized: "The Thirteenth Master shows his love, I can't thank you enough!"
"Okay, okay, anything about being grateful or not is just empty talk... You have to fight hard and kill more Japanese pirates, so that you can live up to my love and concern!"
Hearing these words, Qiu Hong was really moved. This was a real benefit!
"Thank you Thirteenth Master for your kindness. I will do my best to kill the Japanese pirates!"
"Well...this is the best!"
With a few simple tricks, Zhu Jinghong gained the gratitude of Jinling Dusi and Qiu Hong at the same time. For him, today was a full harvest.
The two continued to drink tea, and Zhu Jinghong encouraged him again, and then the conversation between the two ended.
Qiu Hong returned with great excitement. At this moment, he was full of fighting spirit and vowed to lead his troops to defeat the Japanese pirates.
"Sir, why do these officials see you like a mouse sees a cat?"
"What exactly does your family do?"
In the pavilion, Yinglian asked this question face to face.
Everyone was hiding it from her, and she couldn't hold back her strong curiosity. She was trying her best to be rude and wanted to ask.
Of course, she also asked after seeing that Zhu Jinghong was kind-hearted and would not vent his anger on her. After all, the little girl was quite smart.
Zhu Jinghong clapped his hands with the remains of the pastry on his hands and said, "Actually, it's nothing, I just have a good father!"
"What does your family do?"
Zhu Jinghong smiled slightly and replied: "My family... is the leader in the world!"
"Sit in the world?"
After just a moment's thought, Yinglian's expression suddenly changed, and her whole body froze on the spot.
After a long time, Yinglian asked tremblingly: "Sir, are you...the prince?"
The emperor's son is a prince. This rule has become common knowledge in the world for more than three hundred years from Zhu Yuanzhang to the present.
"No...but it will be soon!" Zhu Jinghong's tone remained calm, as if he was talking about an ordinary thing.
But through observing the palace these days, Yinglian knew that Zhu Jinghong was telling the truth, and only this result was reasonable.
"Reporting to the Thirteenth Master, the young master of Jinling Inspector He Gujin is asking for an audience!"
A sudden report from outside interrupted the conversation between Zhu Jinghong and Yinglian.
Zhu Jinghong turned his head, looked up and down at Deng An who came to deliver the message, and asked slowly: "This person has no official status, how can he get close to the palace gate? How can he find you to deliver the message?"
Deng An only came to deliver the message after receiving money. At this moment, when he was questioned by Zhu Jinghong, he couldn't tell the truth or lie. He was stunned for a moment.
"Slave deserves to die, take his benefits!"
Deng An was a smart man and knew that lying could not hide Zhu Jinghong, so he simply told the truth.
"Hmph, you do know how to do business!"
Looking at Deng An kneeling on the ground, Zhu Jinghong asked in a deep voice: "What is he doing here?"
"Back to Thirteenth Master, this man has brought a lot of things, including weapons and horses. I'm afraid... he's here to give me gifts!" Deng An replied cautiously.
"This is the first time I have been bribed... It's really interesting!" Zhu Jinghong's eyes were blazing.
After reviewing the current situation in Jinling, Zhu Jinghong guessed that this person must have something he wanted, so he ordered Deng An to bring him in.
After leaving the pavilion, Deng An wiped the sweat from his forehead. He had just been frightened, so he asked He Jiayan to double the money.
Hurrying to the palace gate, Deng An first said how troublesome it would be to help deliver the message, and then reminded him how complicated the rules for entering the palace were, but he could help take care of things.
So for the sake of convenience, He Jiayan spent one hundred taels, which made Deng An smile.
"Master He, please come in..."
He Jiayan looked embarrassed, glanced at the motorcade behind him, and asked, "But these things..."
Perhaps because he was happy after getting the money, Deng An said nonchalantly: "Let the guards check it and bring it in together!"
"That's great!" He Jiayan was very happy.
In the forbidden area of the palace, everyone must be questioned and inspected when entering, even if they bring something with them.
Soon, swords, bows, crossbows, and even regulated armor and fire guns were found among the things He Jiayan brought.
Finally, after He Jiayan's explanation and Deng An's life as a guarantee, these things were sent to the palace.
However, in order to ensure absolute safety, Qianhu sent thirty soldiers on duty to escort these things into the palace.
"Master He, I risked my life to guarantee you, how can you repay this childish love?"
"Don't worry, father-in-law, I know it well!" He Jiayan replied with a smile.
"If you ask me...just give me a few hundred taels of silver!"
He only gave two hundred taels, but now he asked for hundreds of taels. He Jiayan secretly scolded Deng An for being greedy.
"Easy to say...easy to say!" He Jiayan suppressed his heartache.
