Chapter 570: Military Review at Shenyang City

Given the complexity of the domestic situation, King Li Zong of Joseon did not actually hold much real power. Although many people had supported him in the years since his ascension, their support came with demands for benefits.

Without power in his hands and without money, Li Zong could not accomplish what he wanted to do. The main reason people dared not replace Li Zong was largely because the Great Ming was backing him up.

This time, Li Zong had come to Liaodong hoping that the Great Ming would continue to support him, so he could gain some benefits from it. On the one hand, he wanted to appease his own country; on the other, he did not want to anger the Great Ming.

But judging from the current situation, this Emperor of the Great Ming had far more thoughts in his head than Li Zong did.

Zhu Youxiao looked at the grim-faced Li Zong and said casually, "Then teach them a lesson."

Zhu Youxiao said these words as if they were only natural, which left Li Zong beside him somewhat stunned.

Was the Great Ming really like this now? So assertive, directly saying they would teach the Wa nation a lesson?

That war back then had been fought with great difficulty, hadn't it? Could the Great Ming's military strength really be incomparable to what it once was?

Thinking of the military might the Great Ming had displayed in Liaodong this time, Li Zong did have some confidence in his heart—it was just that this confidence was not particularly strong.

He was still somewhat worried. If they won, the benefits he could obtain went without saying; but if they lost, and the Great Ming simply packed up and left, leaving him alone to face the Wa nation—that would be a difficult situation to handle.

If things went badly, there might be another Imjin War, and what would he do then, isolated and without support?

Zhu Youxiao looked at the hesitant Li Zong and let out a helpless sigh.

Look at this, look at this—is this all there is?

They should have let them see the Great Ming's military strength after the military review, and then spoken. Otherwise, nothing could be discussed properly.

But if he did not meet with King Li Zong of Joseon before the review, Li Zong would feel he was not being taken seriously enough.

How annoying.

Zhu Youxiao slowly withdrew his gaze, no longer intending to discuss this matter with Li Zong.

He was truly a useless waste—never mind him.

Although he knew what Li Zong was worried about, had they really never learned anything about the Great Ming before?

Even if they had not understood before, after seeing this battle, they should have some understanding now, shouldn't they?

And if they still had no understanding now, then the Great Ming's utter fearlessness toward the Wa nation should have given them some pause, shouldn't it?

To have no thoughts at all and just play dumb here—that was simply the most foolish behavior. Weren't they afraid that after the Great Ming dealt with the Jurchen, they would deal with Joseon as well?

"Someone, bring the feast." Zhu Youxiao stood up and said to Wei Chao beside him.

Since there was no longer any need to continue the discussion, then there was no need to discuss it. Everyone should just hurry up and eat.

Whatever needed to be said could be said after the meal—or better yet, they could just eat and then quickly get lost. There was nothing more to say.

Before the military review and presentation of the spoils, he would do nothing more—just quietly watch.

Li Zong, however, began to panic. He had not expected that his slight hesitation would cause the Great Ming's Emperor to ignore him and call for the meal. This signified that they had already moved to the next stage of proceedings, which was not good news at all.

He stood up anxiously, wanting to say something.

But Wei Chao came forward instead, directly blocking Li Zong, and made a gesture inviting him to proceed.

With a beaming smile on his face, Wei Chao said, "Your Highness, a seat has already been arranged for you over here. This place is very good."

Li Zong glanced at Wei Chao.

What the hell do you mean this place is very good? How is this place very good?

Wei Chao remained unmoved, paying no attention at all to Li Zong's gaze.

On the Great Ming's territory, you had no room to throw your weight around. If the Great Ming cared about you, then you were the King of Joseon; if the Great Ming did not care about you, then you were a monarch of a fallen nation.

Li Zong had no choice but to watch Zhu Youxiao walk away, and then be led by Wei Chao to his seat.

Li Zong had just wanted to say something to Wei Chao when Wei Chao turned around and left.

Wei Chao simply pretended he had not seen anything.

If even the Emperor did not want to bother with you, then naturally I would not speak with you either. Only a fool would bother with you.

In Wei Chao's heart, King Li Zong of Joseon was a foolish man, and such people should be kept at a distance. If one got too close, one might well be dragged down with them.

Wei Chao turned and went to arrange the upcoming banquet.

In fact, the banquet had already been arranged long ago. Once the orders were given here, people filed in one after another, bringing up all the dishes. The musicians were also ready and began to play.

There were dancers as well. Though one could not find the very best in a place like Liaodong—let alone anything from Jiangnan—ordinary ones could still be found.

Although Zhu Youxiao had not brought any women on this trip, men could dance as well, though the atmosphere would not be quite the same.

After Zhu Youxiao sat down, the wine and dishes were brought up.

After sharing a cup of wine with King Li Zong of Joseon, he began to eat, no longer paying any attention to Li Zong at all.

The dishes the cooks had made today tasted quite good, which left Zhu Youxiao very satisfied.

In front of Zhu Youxiao was set a roasted leg of lamb. One could tell that both the skill and the mutton itself were of excellent quality.

Zhu Youxiao was eating this leg of lamb with complete concentration.

Holding a small slicing knife in his hand, he cut the meat himself and ate it himself, with both dry and wet seasonings available.

And beside Zhu Youxiao, someone knelt, with charcoal fire already set up.

If the Emperor's food went cold, they would heat it up for him. One could say the service was very attentive, and all sorts of other things had also been prepared.

The beverage was naturally beer—something the Imperial Household Department had recently come up with. What was served to Zhu Youxiao was naturally the finest of the fine, absolutely excellent.

Zhu Youxiao was enjoying himself immensely. Eating roasted meat and drinking beer counted as a truly pleasurable experience.

King Li Zong of Joseon sat there, overwhelmed with mixed emotions, finding the food tasteless.

When the meal was finished, Zhu Youxiao had the guests sent off.

He had not the slightest intention of talking with Li Zong anymore. Now was simply not the time—but soon it would be. Zhu Youxiao was quite confident of this.

King Li Zong of Joseon had left, but the news did not stop.

Everyone expected Zhu Youxiao to summon people again, but they were mistaken—Zhu Youxiao had no intention of summoning anyone at all.

This matter came to a halt, and everyone smoothly moved on to the next topic—the direction of the Great Ming's war.

In fact, as more and more news arrived, the direction of the war had become quite clear—the trend toward suppression and clearance was nearly complete.

Lu Xiangsheng had already returned with his men. The Jurchen side no longer needed so many people—leaving a portion of the troops to maintain order and mop up remnant bandits was more than enough.

After Lu Xiangsheng left, Sun Chuanting would soon be on his way as well, and the remaining matters would naturally be handled by Xiong Tingbi.

After cleaning up the aftermath, Xiong Tingbi would also return to Shenyang, and then would come the time for his meteoric rise.

Everyone knew this. Although Xiong Tingbi had not earned any particular merit this time, no one could erase his contributions.

He had held the line in the bitter cold of Liaodong for eight years, and it was under his stewardship that Liaodong had achieved its current stability—and its current victory.

His Majesty was so fond of him—everyone knew that. This time he would at minimum become a Staff Minister, or even directly the Minister of War, and who knew, he might even enter the Grand Secretariat outright.

Zhu Youxiao had long since made his arrangements.

Half a month after Zhu Youxiao arrived in Shenyang, Lu Xiangsheng finally returned with his men.

For a moment, Shenyang erupted in thunderous cheers. Everyone rushed to the city gates to watch the excitement and welcome the army's triumphant return.

The Mongols did the same—they too wanted to see the elite troops of the Great Ming.

Only upon arriving here did the Mongols realize that the true elite forces of the Great Ming were the Imperial Kinsmen's Guard, the troops at the Emperor's side. The ones who had been fighting them in Liaodong were merely border troops.

These Mongols had never paid attention to this before, but this time they had no choice but to.

And Lu Xiangsheng was the man rumored to have killed Hong Taiji—who wouldn't want to see someone like that? If relations soured in the future, this man would likely be everyone's enemy, and the army he led would likely be the one they would have to defeat. So at a time like this, not taking a look and not sizing him up would be doing oneself a great disservice.

Zhu Youxiao could understand this reasoning well enough, and let them do as they pleased.

Today, Zhu Youxiao had only one task: to serve as a mascot atop the great drill ground outside Shenyang.

Because a captive-presentation ceremony was to be held. Though the prisoners had already been captured for many days, the ceremony still had to be conducted—after all, it was meant to awe everyone.

Not only would captives be presented, they would also be executed—this was the standard routine of such ceremonies.

Today Zhu Youxiao was dressed in full regalia, seated upon the steps, waiting quietly. Aside from that, he had nothing to do at all.

Go up and deliver a rousing, impassioned speech?

No one would dare listen. No need.

If he truly did such a thing, in Sun Chengzong's words, it would not only fail to boost morale or intimidate anyone, but would actually diminish the dignity of the imperial house.

An Emperor of the Great Ming need not say anything—his presence alone carried its own authority.

As for the words of encouragement and rewards, those naturally went into the imperial edict.

As time passed, the crowd grew ever larger.

The more prominent Mongols and the King of Joseon, Li Zong, had naturally already been invited by Zhu Youxiao. They stood in two rows not far from the viewing stand, waiting quietly.

With a single blast of a horn, countless horns sounded all around in an instant, followed by the beating of drums.

The rumbling drums and horns intermingled, filling the air with a killing solemnity.

Then, a column of riders approached from not far away.

They rode on horseback, their mounts' steps perfectly uniform—one glance told you these were well-drilled elite cavalry.

They wore light oxhide armor, carried two short muskets at their waists, a lance slung across their backs, and a horse-slaying saber hanging diagonally at one thigh.

One glance at this column told you their defenses were nothing impressive, and many people couldn't help but feel a hint of contempt.