The first naval battle between Ming Dynasty and Japan ended with Ming Dynasty's complete victory.

It was a complete and utter victory.

No one was killed in the battle, and no battlefield was damaged.

The difference between them is too huge.

The Japanese were also ruthless, and almost all of their attacks were suicidal. However, when the last warship was sunk, it did not cause any actual damage to the Ming army.

"Take no prisoners."

Feng Sheng looked at the Japanese warrior who fell into the water and said indifferently.

A kind man cannot command an army.

Feng Sheng, who had spent most of his life on horseback, would naturally have no sympathy for the weak.

These Japanese warriors who fell into the water were very brave and fearless. It would be difficult to send them to the army if they were left behind. They were completely a nuisance.

Even if we forcibly train them to become spies, the cost would be too high.

The best spies are never soldiers.

But the nobility.

Feng Sheng has a deep understanding of this.

As the military order was issued, thousands of warships gathered, and the soldiers on the ships drew their bows and arrows and shot directly.

The main reason why fire control was not used was that gunpowder was expensive and difficult to supply at sea. In this situation of killing a drowning dog, there was no need to waste it.

After staying for about an incense stick of time and feeling that the shooting was basically completed, Feng Sheng ordered the fleet to move on.

Heading towards Kyushu Island.

Japan's more than 500 warships only hindered the Ming navy for less than two hours.

It makes no sense at all.

…

On the Ming Dynasty side.

Lan Yu, Zhu Quan and others have returned to the capital.

For the imperial court, the main purpose of the rebellion led by Tian Jiuchen and others was to claim the throne.

In fact, there are quite a few people who have rebelled in recent years. On average, similar situations occur every few years.

It’s just that Tian Jiucheng’s momentum this time is a little more powerful.

It's not a big achievement, just like training troops.

However, the next trip to Liaodong is very important.

"The changes in the capital are really huge. I have only been here for a short time, less than two months, and it feels like a completely different place."

After the morning court session, Lan Yu and Cao Zhen followed their previous habit and called their friends over for a feast.

After all, we won a victory, brothers, we have to celebrate.

When I came back before, I was already shocked by Zhengyang Avenue. I didn’t expect it to be even more exaggerated when I walked around.

Hearing Cao Zhen's sigh, Lan Yu nodded in agreement.

"Not only that, don't you find that the people in the capital seem to have changed a lot?"

Lan Yu's words made Cao Zhen observe carefully, but looking at the hurried passers-by, there didn't seem to be much change.

Seeing Cao Zhen's indifferent expression, Lan Yu also knew his brother's situation, and was too lazy to beat around the bush, so he said bluntly:

"Look at these people. Everyone who passed by had a sense of hope. Even when they were talking to others, they smiled sincerely and happily."

“Even the vendors carrying loads on their shoulders seem very motivated.”

After hearing these words, Cao Zhen finally discovered these characteristics.

Recalling the situation of the people outside the capital, the contrast is much more obvious.

"Let's go to Lai Fu Restaurant first."

Lan Yu greeted and walked ahead.

Lai Fu Restaurant is quite famous in the capital, and nobles and generals like Lan Yu often have dinner there.

It is called a restaurant, but in fact it is a structure with a front building and a back yard.

Lan Yu and other Huaixi nobles all had high status. When they came to the restaurant to eat and drink, it was of course impossible for them to stay in the lobby.

Otherwise, ordinary guests will not be able to relax.

This Lai Fu Restaurant is the Chang family's business, so we still have to take care of it to some extent.

"Duke Liang, this way please."

The restaurant owner was sharp-eyed. When he heard that Duke Liang had returned victorious, he kept his eyes on the main road whenever the restaurant opened in the past two days.

Sure enough, he soon saw Lan Yu's figure.

Without waiting for the servant to do anything, he came out from the counter to greet him.

There is naturally a separate side door to the backyard of the restaurant.

However, Lan Yu stopped at the entrance of the restaurant, frowned and asked, "What is the storyteller talking about here?"

In just a few short sentences, Lan Yu heard some familiar content, which was about some arrangements in the court.

Since when has a restaurant become able to discuss state affairs so blatantly?

The shopkeeper quickly explained, "I don't know that Liang Guogong has returned. Recently, storytellers have been invited to tell the contents of the court newspapers everywhere in the capital."

"There is a lot of news about the court in the court bulletin, and everyone is very interested."

Listening to the shopkeeper's explanation, Lan Yu immediately became interested.

"Okay, I'll go and listen to the story first to see what it's about. Tell the brothers in the backyard that I'll be there later."

Upon hearing the Duke of Liang's instructions, the shopkeeper hurriedly greeted him in person and entered the restaurant lobby.

Cao Zhen naturally came along as well.

After calling a clever servant to wait nearby, the shopkeeper personally trotted towards the backyard to deliver the message.

It is true that the restaurant belongs to the Chang family, but his owner is not from the Chang family.

He couldn't afford to offend any of the officials in the backyard.

The shopkeeper has always been very clear that he cannot be the shopkeeper of Chang's Restaurant for the rest of his life. If he offends someone in this position, perhaps others will not make things difficult for him for the sake of the Chang family.

But if there is someone with a small heart, when he is no longer working, just a simple warning can destroy his family.

Many guests in the restaurant did not react much to Lan Yu's entry.

After all, there was no such thing as portraits in that era, so no one would recognize someone unless they were familiar with them.

Because of the Chang family's business, Lai Fu Restaurant is both high-end and safe in the entire capital.

No young man ever dared to cause trouble here.

Even though the prices here are not low, the same tea is a few cents more expensive than in other restaurants, but it is decent.

Lan Yu and Cao Zhen sat down in the restaurant and began to listen to the storyteller's story.

But as he listened, his originally relaxed face became somewhat serious.

What the storyteller is talking about now is mainly about the latest developments in the court gazette, including some of the contents of previous court gazettes, which also contain a lot of repetition.

After all, if you read a court report aloud, even if the speed is a bit slow, it will only take a while.

So when a storyteller is telling a story, he can't just finish it all at once and then end it.

You can only add a lot of your own things into it.

Sometimes, I have to take out the contents of the previous report and analyze it again.

Fortunately, the guests didn’t feel bored and enjoyed listening to it.

The most important thing is that the official bulletins are updated very quickly, especially in the capital.

But now, these are very important news for Lan Yu.

Because all the changes in the Ming Dynasty are based on this.

When the storyteller was explaining, he also shared some insights that had already been widely spread.

I listened for half an hour.

Only when the content began to be repeated did Lan Yu get up and leave.

"I didn't expect that His Royal Highness is so powerful. Although I had already guessed it, I was still surprised when this day finally came."

"This is just what a small storyteller can see. There is much more that cannot be seen."

"Brother Zhen, I have a feeling that under the leadership of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, the Ming Dynasty may change at an extremely fast pace, beyond our imagination."

Lan Yu is very smart.

Among all the nobles and generals, he is considered to be of the younger generation.

He is a bit reckless in character, but that doesn't mean he can't learn.

On the contrary, Lan Yu's learning ability is very strong.

If this were not the case, there would be no Lan Yu today.

It was just that the constant success blinded his eyes, especially after he reached the peak, he felt like no one else could do it better than him.

The previous famous minister was slowly getting old, and he, who inherited Chang Yuchun's direct power, was very popular in the entire Ming Dynasty.

Coupled with his close relationship with His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, he is truly arrogant.

However, after what Zhu Ying said, especially the list, Lan Yu still remembers it vividly.

Now Lan Yu has calmed down.

Once your mindset changes, your perspective will naturally change.

So when I heard the storyteller talk about the recent changes in the capital, I could think of so many things.

In fact, Lan Yu gathered his brothers together for a meal and drink with the intention of finding out the latest news from the capital.

Cao Zhen did not come from a large family. He climbed up the ladder entirely through his own daring to fight and kill.

Of course, I listened with great interest to what the storyteller just said.

But now after hearing what Lan Yu said, I felt a little confused and didn't know how to answer.

Lan Yu just sighed to himself and had no intention of asking for an answer.

In the capital, the one who felt the most was not the military generals like Lan Yu, but Li Jinglong.

Li Jinglong, who had a particularly close relationship with Zhu Di.

"Uncle, you left too early. What would you think if you saw the changes in the capital?"

In Prince Yan's Mansion, Li Jinglong said with emotion.

In the yard, he and Princess Yan sat facing each other.

"No matter how good the capital is, it is not your uncle's world. You should know your uncle's character. He has always been strong."

"The war in Japan should have already started. With your uncle's ability, he will naturally win. I am not worried about these. What I am worried about is the intention of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince."

"Jinglong, tell me carefully, will there be any changes on the side of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince's side?"

Xu Yihua was in the capital, so he naturally saw the changes in the capital clearly.

She seldom goes out normally, but in the past month or so, she has been going out frequently.

It is to observe the changes in the capital.

Perhaps in the eyes of others, nature has developed better and people live and work in peace and contentment.

But in Xu Yihua's eyes, he saw the Crown Prince's ambition, a huge ambition.

Especially the appearance of the court report made Xu Yihua a little frightened.

As she grew up in the palace and then became a princess, she has never been unfamiliar with the word "people's hearts".

The emergence of official gazettes is a powerful weapon for manipulating public opinion.

Unlike the previous method of preventing people from speaking out, now we are turning it into our own use.

In other words, as long as the Crown Prince wants to do something, he can use the court reports as a guide to make changes.

This is horrible.

Recently, Xu Yihua also disguised himself to listen to the ideas of traveling merchants, scholars, and even vendors.

Because everyone was discussing what was in the official newspaper.

In the end, she discovered that everyone believed the contents of the newspaper.

Especially when the Japanese pirates' acts of aggression were published in the official gazette, anyone who saw or heard the content would hate the Japanese pirates to the core.

And Xu Yihua knew that with His Royal Highness the Crown Prince's current ability, whoever he pointed at as a "Japanese pirate" would be a Japanese pirate.

Even the ministers in the court had no ability to resist at all.

This is a good thing for the Ming Dynasty.

But for King Yan, it is difficult to estimate.

Li Jinglong listened to his cousin's wife's words and did not answer immediately, but fell silent.

After a long while, he finally said, "I went to the palace a few days ago and happened to run into Yun Wen."

"Yun Wen happily told me that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince agreed to his plan to establish a country overseas, and the place Yun Wen chose to establish his vassal state was in Champa. My cousin should know this."

Xu Yihua nodded. She was not unfamiliar with Champa, because many spices for the royal palace were shipped from Champa.

In this regard, it is quite famous.

"Champa's location is very special. His Royal Highness has never lost interest in maritime trade, which shows how important Champa is."

"But Yunwen requested to go to Champa, and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince still agreed. If it was just a simple agreement, perhaps I would have thought too much, but His Royal Highness the Crown Prince allowed Yunwen to study at the Military Academy first."

"This is completely different. It means that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince really wants Yun Wen to establish a vassal state in Champa."

"What does my cousin think?"

Li Jinglong did not directly answer Xu Yihua's question, but instead talked about what happened to Zhu Yunwen recently.

But Xu Yihua understood the underlying meaning.

Li Jinglong’s meaning was very simple, that is, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince could give up all important positions to Zhu Yunwen, which showed that he really cared about blood relationship.

The conflict between Zhu Yunwen and the Crown Prince was more direct than that between Prince of Yan and the Crown Prince.

After all, before the Crown Prince entered the palace, His Majesty had already announced that Zhu Yunwen would serve as the Crown Prince, and even the date of the enthronement ceremony had been announced.

But when Zhu Ying arrived, His Majesty directly abolished Zhu Yunwen's position as the Crown Prince.

Judging from the situation, a trend of incompatibility has already been formed.

So what Li Jinglong meant was that if His Royal Highness the Crown Prince could even use Zhu Yunwen, then his cousin should be able to do the same.

Xu Yihua hesitated for a moment and said, "Crown Princess, Jinglong should be quite familiar with her."

"When I was in the palace, I often came into contact with her. She is not a simple person."

"Yun Wen couldn't think of Champa, but she could."

"Your uncle is different. He has made great contributions. Your Highness, aren't you afraid that your achievements will overthrow the emperor?"

Li Jinglong shook his head and said, "No matter how powerful my cousin is, there is still the Duke of Liang and the noble generals of Huaixi."

"The most important thing is that His Royal Highness is still very young. The descendants of my cousin cannot threaten His Royal Highness at all."

"Whether it's Japan or Liaodong, it's impossible."