Chapter 80 Leaving the Capital
Shortly after Zhu Zhanji issued his decree, Duke Ying of Ying, Xue Lu, Marquis of Yangwu, and others inspected the imperial guards and reported their numbers. He also ordered the guards east of the capital and Jizhou to begin preparing so they could follow the imperial army when it arrived. When the emperor toured the borders, besides the most basic guards, he also required courtiers to accompany him. Therefore, Zhu Zhanji also appointed many important officials to accompany him.
In addition, the Ministry of Revenue was ordered to provide one month's rations and the Ministry of Works to prepare thick coats and shoes to ensure that the soldiers had enough food and clothing.
The purpose of border patrols is not to fight, but to conduct military exercises to test whether the soldiers in important military towns have the combat capabilities, and it is also a deterrent to the enemy.
Therefore, in addition to the actual preparations, Zhu Zhanji also sent officials and nobles to worship the ancestors of heaven and earth and various gods. It was not until August 27th that the vanguard of the border patrol team set off in a mighty manner after offering sacrifices to the Taimiao.
The imperial carriage officially set out on the 28th, crossed the Lu River and stopped at Hongqiao. Zhu Zhanji summoned all the generals and issued a strict order that anyone who disturbed the people would be killed without mercy. He also sent Jinyiwei officials to patrol everywhere to prevent any soldiers from causing trouble.
Zhu Zhanji wore a red robe with auspicious cloud and dragon patterns on the inside, and a bright yellow armor on the outside, looking majestic and solemn. After issuing the imperial decree, he glanced at the crowd and saw Zhu Yuhuan standing nearby with his sword in hand. He suddenly smiled and said, "You really look like a real person. If you weren't a little shorter, Dad wouldn't have recognized you."
In addition to Zhu Zhanji and Zhu Yuhuan, father and daughter, veteran ministers such as Jian Yi, Xia Yuanji, and the Three Yangs also followed along on this border patrol. Upon hearing this, they all looked at Zhu Yuhuan with expressions of surprise.
They had already noticed that the soldier beside them was much shorter than the others, and didn't look like a carefully selected guard at all. But they hadn't imagined it could be the princess. After all, with the blue armor and helmet on, it was hard to even see her face, let alone recognize her. Furthermore, the Lu River had just been hit by a disaster, and the road was muddy and bumpy. Even the imperial carriage wouldn't be comfortable, let alone riding a horse.
There was another carriage behind Zhu Zhanji's imperial carriage. They thought the one behind was the princess's carriage, but who would have thought that the princess also looked like an ordinary soldier?
Zhu Yuhuan immediately stepped out of the group, bowed, and said, "Your Majesty, I am here."
Zhu Zhanji smiled and said, "Shunde has made many contributions to agricultural tools. Now that it is the autumn harvest time, I thought of taking her with me on a border patrol to experience the hardships faced by the people."
Zhu Yuhuan said seriously: "Your Majesty is wise!"
Zhu Zhanji touched her helmet and said, "You are so naughty." After that, he personally helped her take off the vermilion helmet with the word "Yong" on it, revealing Zhu Yuhuan's beautiful face.
Zhu Yuhuan then looked at everyone, bowed and said with a smile: "Shunde greets you all, gentlemen."
Everyone also greeted. "Your Highness greets the Princess."
It was just a funny story between father and daughter, and it would be a good story if told to others. In addition, Zhu Zhanji had recently given extra rewards to the Hu family. Everyone present knew that His Majesty was not planning to depose the empress again.
For these ministers, this was the perfect situation. His Majesty wanted to depose the Empress, but the Empress Dowager disagreed. They didn't want to be caught in the middle, and if the Empress was deposed, who knew who would be blamed? They didn't have the courage of Yang Rong, who was so devoted to protecting the Emperor that he didn't care about his own future.
Therefore, Yang Pu smiled and said, "The princess has a broad mind. This generosity and benevolence comes from Your Majesty, and will surely be passed on to the two princes."
Although the queen had taken the initiative to submit a petition, because he was busy with a border inspection, Zhu Zhanji only ordered the six ministries to prepare for the appointment of the crown prince, and the ceremony would be held next spring when the flowers bloomed.
Zhu Zhanji smiled and said, "Shunde has put a lot of thought into the eldest and second princes. He even specially prepared illustrations for their primers. The Three Character Classic is almost finished, and it will be ready for use once the princes are old enough to learn to read."
Everyone was a little surprised when they heard this, but Yang Pu was aware of Zhu Yuhuan's wisdom and felt deeply moved.
I don’t know how many people are looking forward to becoming the Crown Prince’s teacher, but Princess Shunde has already taken the initiative.
Zhu Yuhuan did not take any credit for it. He smiled and said, "The painting is now handed over to Yongqing. She learns painting quickly and is more talented than me. Every illustration she draws is lifelike."
Zhu Zhanji smiled and said, "Very good."
Everyone finally came to their senses.
Previously, apart from political affairs, Your Majesty's family affairs were the most eye-catching, and even caused rumors inside and outside the palace, which was not a good thing for the country.
Now, Your Majesty is taking Princess Shunde on a border tour, and he is expressing in front of all the ministers the loving father and filial son, and the friendly brothers and respectful younger brothers in his family, in order to prove that the royal family affairs are clean and honest.
Everyone saw it with their own eyes and understood it in their hearts, so naturally they all complimented the royal family's enviable kinship.
As for how much of it is true and how much of it is false, why bother about it?
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