After a brief rest, Zhu Jinghong continued to lead the team towards Yixing.
The crowd hadn't gone very far when more people approached one after another, obviously wanting to follow them on their way.
The same is true for several members of the Zhen family. Bandits are infested in the wilderness. They, the female relatives, are more worried about their safety. They can be safer if they follow the large group of people.
They had been traveling since noon, and when the sun set, Zhu Jinghong and his party finally arrived in Yixing.
After entering the city, he immediately rushed to the place where the prince stayed, which was the Yixing County Government Office.
Zhu Jingyuan vomited blood and fell ill. Gao Shuyan and a group of bachelors were worried, and the host magistrate of Yixing was even more worried.
If the prince is really up to something, not only will his job as county magistrate come to an end, but he might even have to go with the prince.
"Is the prince awake?"
"I only woke up for less than half an hour today, and then fell asleep again. I haven't woken up yet..." the Yixing magistrate said anxiously.
Soon, Zhu Jinghong was led outside a room, which was guarded by Dragon Guards.
Entering the room, there were several East Palace scholars and two imperial doctors who were making medicine.
"Master Thirteen..."
Everyone greeted him, but Zhu Jinghong walked directly to the bed.
Looking at the pale prince on the bed, Zhu Jinghong suddenly felt uncomfortable.
My good fourth brother, nothing can happen to you. I am still a fledgling. If you burp, wouldn’t it be an advantage for me?
Thinking of this, Zhu Jinghong lay down beside the bed, squeezed out tears and wailed: "Fourth brother, what's wrong with you?"
"It was fine a few days ago, why is it like this now?"
"If something happens to you, how can I explain it to my parents? My dear fourth brother..."
"Thirteenth Master, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince needs to rest. You should..."
The officials of the East Palace on the side were about to persuade him, but Zhu Jinghong immediately turned around and scolded: "How do you take care of the prince?"
"He actually... turned into this!"
Faced with such accusations, everyone present was frightened. If they were really found guilty of this accusation, they would all be finished.
"Thirteenth Master, His Highness the Crown Prince is resting. How can you make a noise here? Don't you care about His Highness's illness?"
At the door of the room, Gao Shuyan, who had received the news, walked in with the other two East Palace scholars.
Zhu Jinghong was not afraid at all, and said coldly: "You have made the prince like this, and you blame me in turn?"
It is only natural for a younger brother to worry about his elder brother. What does he have to fear?
After entering the room, Gao Shuyan walked to the bedside and said with a sad face: "Thirteenth Master, please speak carefully. The prince is seriously ill and the ministers are also worried!"
It can be seen that Gao Shuyan does have feelings for the prince, and his sadness at this moment is not fake.
Zhu Jinghong didn't like Gao Shuyan and even wanted to get rid of him quickly.
Because of this, he was extremely wary and encouraged the prince to alienate Zhu Jinghong.
If this person is not cut off, how can Zhu Jinghong safely take advantage of the prince's influence, how can he hide behind the prince and fill his wings.
After befriending Li Wenzhao, Zhu Jinghong was very well-informed and had learned that someone in Beijing was impeaching Gao Shuyan.
So now, Zhu Jinghong has to take the blame for Gao Shuyan, and those in Beijing who want to punish him will take advantage of it.
While everyone was arguing, Wang Quanyi and Kong Jinshan also rushed over.
It was these five people who formed the Jinling Army Command Center and commanded the 30,000 troops on the front line.
"I've met Master Thirteen!" Wang Quanyi and the other two saluted respectfully.
Zhu Jinghong couldn't help but ask: "Nowadays, the suppression of Japanese invaders is a big issue. You are not imperial doctors. Your main job is to lead troops in battle. Why are you here?"
This is of course very unreasonable. In this era where people rely on people to deliver messages, of course the commander should be as close to the battlefield as possible.
Yixing is at least seventy or eighty miles away from the Japanese suppression front line, so the rear command is disconnected from the front line.
"Do you know that Japanese pirates are wreaking havoc all over the country, causing numerous deaths and injuries to people's homes?"
"The general is hiding in Yixing, and this is how you fight?" Zhu Jinghong became more and more dissatisfied, with questioning in his tone.
His dissatisfaction with Gao Shuyan was out of selfish interests, so Zhu Jinghong's current scolding of Wang Quanyi and the others was entirely out of public interest.
"Thirteenth Master, I am not a minister..." Wang Quanyi hesitated to speak, but glanced at Gao Shuyan aside.
"Thirteenth Master, I asked them to stay in Yixing because His Highness the Crown Prince is also in Yixing!" Gao Shuyan explained coldly.
Zhu Jinghong also sneered: "So that's what you meant... With a figure like a sleeping dragon and a phoenix like a young scholar like Gao, why did the suppression of the Japanese become like this?"
These words choked Gao Shuyan to the point of being speechless, and he could only listen to Wang Quanyi's help from the side.
"Scholar Gao is a scholar after all. It is normal for him not to understand the matter of leading troops to conquer. Master Thirteenth must not be harsh on him..."
On the surface, these words were meant to intercede for Gao Shuyan, but in reality they were accusing him of being an outsider and leading an expert.
Originally, Wang Quanyi sent someone to summon Zhu Jinghong in order to crowd out Gao Shuyan so that he could concentrate on suppressing the Japanese.
"I can't blame it, but can I not blame those people who left their homes and careers behind?"
"My father asked the fourth brother to take charge of the overall situation. Now that the situation has become like this, will he be blamed?"
Zhu Jinghong's charges were each more serious than the last.
The other Gao Shuyan was indifferent. When he heard whether the emperor would blame him, Gao Shuyan broke into a cold sweat for no reason.
"Cough cough cough..."
There was a fierce quarrel in the room, and the sound of coughing attracted everyone's attention.
"Fourth brother, are you awake?" Zhu Jinghong turned around quickly.
"Your Highness, are you feeling uncomfortable there?"
Gao Shuyan also spoke, his face filled with concern.
"Thirteenth brother, you are here..."
Zhu Jingyuan's tone was extremely weak, as if he might burp at any moment, which made Zhu Jinghong very worried.
"Fourth brother, you should talk less and worry less, and you should take good care of yourself!" Zhu Jinghong's concern was also sincere.
Zhu Jingyuan took a few breaths, and then asked: "The Japanese suppression...how is it going now?"
Wang Quanyi spoke at the right time: "The Japanese pirates... are being encircled and suppressed, Prince Edward, don't worry!"
"How's the battle going? Is there any good news?"
After all, he came with the imperial edict, how could Zhu Jingyuan not care about the situation.
It was really difficult for him to have to think about these things when he was critically ill.
"The Japanese suppression is being encircled. With the sincere cooperation of all departments, I want to come..."
To be precise, it's a mess now. Wang Quanyi can't make it up at the moment, but he doesn't dare to tell lies to deceive him.
At this time, Kong Jinshan said from the side: "Today, the Thirteenth Master led the troops to fight fiercely with the Japanese pirates and wiped out all the enemy Japanese pirates!"
On the way here just now, Kong Jinshan listened to the conversation between the guards and learned about the battle situation at noon today.
In any case, this is good news, and the prince will be happy to hear it.
This news was beyond Gao Shuyan's expectation, and the officials in the East Palace in the room also looked surprised.
The word "total annihilation" is really a rare word. At least in the more than a month under Zhu Jingyuan's command, this kind of thing has basically never happened.
Zhu Jingyuan had mixed feelings in his heart. At this time, he had to admit that his abilities were indeed limited.
Although the thirteenth brother is not good at studying and is reckless in what he says and does, he is really capable at doing errands... Zhu Jingyuan sighed secretly.
"Thirteenth brother is doing things safely, I know..."
"Now I'm... seriously ill, and it's hard to deal with the fight against Japanese invaders..."
Hearing what Zhu Jingyuan said, Gao Shuyan suddenly felt something bad and immediately said: "Your Highness, I will definitely work together to defeat the Japanese pirates..."
"Mr. Gao……"
Hearing Zhu Jingyuan's call, Gao Shuyan could only reply: "I'm here!"
"What you just said... I heard everything!"
"You usually study and cultivate your character. How to know about battle formations? Let the knowledgeable people do it..."
Sure enough, it was just as he thought. Gao Shuyan immediately tried to comfort him: "Your Highness..."
Zhu Jingyuan was about to stand up while holding on, and said at the same time: "Mr. Gao, the people are in dire straits, and my heart is like a knife cutting into fire. How can I rest in peace and recover from my illness?"
Perhaps because he was too excited, Zhu Jingyuan coughed again, which frightened Gao Shuyan so much that he did not dare to speak again.
"Fourth brother, please rest quickly!" Zhu Jinghong quickly helped him calm down.
Struggling to calm his breathing, Zhu Jingyuan stared at his younger brother and said with great solemnity: "Thirteenth brother, I grant you the right to make arbitrary decisions on the matter of suppressing Japanese enemies!"
"You must..."
Zhu Jinghong didn't even pay attention to what he said next, just because he was already happy in his heart.
The right to make arbitrary decisions when the opportunity arises. Before I even asked for it, my fourth brother took the initiative to send it to me.
After some earnest instruction, Zhu Jingyuan said in a deep voice: "From now on, fourth brother will be relying on you!"
This also means that at least in the matter of suppressing Japanese, the group of scholars from Donggong, including Gao Shuyan, have proven that they are unreliable.
Wang Quanyi and Wang looked at each other, and both saw joy in each other's eyes.
After repeated shirks, Zhu Jingyuan insisted on giving him the power, and Zhu Jinghong "tremendously" agreed. He had done everything he needed to do.
"Fourth brother, don't worry, my younger brother will do his best!"
(End of chapter)
