Chapter 114: Someone's Ambition

In the Imperial Study, Zhu Gaoxu met Lao Zhu once again.

Too lazy to perform the courtesies for Zhu Yuanzhang, Zhu Gaoxu slumped lazily into a chair, waiting for Zhu Yuanzhang to speak first.

Seeing this brazen attitude of Zhu Gaoxu, a dark line flashed across Zhu Yuanzhang's forehead.

It was all from being spoiled!

Zhu Yuanzhang, at this moment, was also too lazy to bother with Zhu Gaoxu; after finishing the last memorial on his desk, Zhu Yuanzhang looked up and said to Zhu Gaoxu, "You little monkey, you've been at this New Army for nearly two months now. I see you've made quite a splash with it, but what is the actual combat effectiveness? You need to give me the bottom line."

Although Zhu Yuanzhang spoke cryptically, Zhu Gaoxu still heard the worry in Lao Zhu's words.

When the New Army was first established, Zhu Yuanzhang had said that after three months, he would let Zhu Gaoxu lead the troops on an expedition to the North to suppress bandits.

With the date drawing ever closer, although Zhu Yuanzhang appeared indifferent on the surface, he was secretly very concerned about Zhu Gaoxu's New Army.

It was just that although Zhu Gaoxu had been training them, no one had ever given him a chance to test them.

What the New Army's combat effectiveness actually was, even Zhu Yuanzhang did not know.

Therefore, Zhu Yuanzhang could not help but ask Zhu Gaoxu.

Of course, no matter what answer Zhu Gaoxu gave, he had a policy to deal with it.

So what if his grandson was raising a bunch of useless trash?

At worst, he would just assign him five thousand elites, and he could flatten them directly when the time came.

Let's see which of the civil and military officials in the court would dare to say otherwise.

Understanding Lao Zhu's good intentions, Zhu Gaoxu straightened his posture and said, "Imperial Grandfather, you can rest assured. There are currently only about two thousand four or five hundred men in the Military Camp. In a few days, I will leave behind one thousand elites. Never mind a few days from now, even the soldiers currently in the Military Camp are like wolf pups; as long as I let them loose, they will surely bite the enemy until they are battered and bloody!"

Hearing Zhu Gaoxu's confident reply, Zhu Yuanzhang nodded with satisfaction.

"As long as you have a clear idea in your mind, just speak up early if there are any problems, so I can make arrangements for you."

"Rest assured, Imperial Grandfather. Three months after the establishment of the New Army, when your grandson sets out on the expedition, I will surely leave not a single blade of grass for the enemy!"

"Good! You are worthy of being my grandson; you have the spirit I had back in the day."

Zhu Yuanzhang cheered and nodded with satisfaction, then continued, "I won't ask you about the Military Camp anymore; just tell me if there's anything. I came to you this time mainly to praise you."

"Praise me? Why does Imperial Grandfather say that?"

Although Zhu Gaoxu narcissistically thought there were many points for which Lao Zhu could praise him, he still wanted to know which of his many virtues Lao Zhu valued the most.

Zhu Yuanzhang, of course, did not know what Zhu Gaoxu was thinking, otherwise he would surely wish for this little monkey Zhu Gaoxu to be further away...

Seeing the look of confusion on Zhu Gaoxu's face, Zhu Yuanzhang said with a slight smile, "A while ago, Song Lian came to the palace to see me and praised you lavishly. At the time, I was discussing matters with a group of ministers, and you, you brat, really saved me some face."

Hearing this from Zhu Yuanzhang, Zhu Gaoxu recalled that a few days ago, Song Lian had indeed disappeared for a day and had a scholar tell him that class was suspended for the day.

At the time, Zhu Gaoxu had even felt a bit unsatisfied because there was no class.

Now that he heard Lao Zhu say this, it turned out that Song Lian had gone to find his parent to praise him.

Realizing this, Zhu Gaoxu felt a moment of emotion.

Not to mention this life, even in his previous life before transmigrating, he had never received such treatment.

It was always the teacher finding the parent to complain; when had a teacher ever specifically sought out a parent to praise him?

However, Zhu Gaoxu did feel that Song Lian's lessons were interesting; not only could he learn many things and principles, but through their conversations, Zhu Gaoxu had also gained a lot of experience.

These things might allow Zhu Gaoxu to avoid many detours, and in this feudal era, they might even save his life.

Thinking this, Zhu Gaoxu suddenly thought of Song Lian's fate.

At this moment, Zhu Yuanzhang was in high spirits and had brought the conversation to this point, so Zhu Gaoxu could not help but say, "Imperial Grandfather, through these two days of conversation, your grandson feels that this Song Lian has extraordinary abilities and is truly remarkable. But even such a person cannot avoid making mistakes in his life; either he is deceived by villains, or he is not thorough in his considerations. But there is one point your grandson can confirm, and that is that Song Lian is absolutely single-mindedly loyal to the Great Ming and loyal to you, Imperial Grandfather."

Hearing Zhu Gaoxu suddenly speak well of Song Lian, Zhu Yuanzhang was silent for a moment.

Then, thinking of something, Zhu Yuanzhang nodded and said, "I have noted your words. No matter what, I will spare Song Lian."

Seeing Zhu Yuanzhang say this, Zhu Gaoxu could not help but smile.

Just when Zhu Gaoxu thought Lao Zhu was done, Lao Zhu continued, "Some people in the court are a bit restless now; you should be careful recently."

Zhu Gaoxu knew that Lao Zhu would not shoot without a target; saying this naturally had its reasons.

After a moment of thought, Zhu Gaoxu understood Lao Zhu's meaning.

Regarding this, Zhu Gaoxu did not express an opinion, but merely nodded.

Immediately after, Zhu Yuanzhang seemed to be talking to himself, or perhaps to Zhu Gaoxu, "The greater the power some people have, the greater their ambition becomes. In the future, there must never again be a minister with such great power."