Chapter 52: Tight on Cash

Just as Zhu Yuanzhang's heart sank, Zhu Gaoxu brought hope to Lao Zhu once again.

"Actually, there is a way to solve this shortcoming."

At this moment, Zhu Yuanzhang's mood was like riding a roller coaster, being teased repeatedly by Zhu Gaoxu.

Seeing that Zhu Yuanzhang had rekindled his hope, Zhu Gaoxu continued, "That immortal told me in a dream yesterday that he could solve the shortcoming of it not being mass-producible for me. He told me to go take a look today, and if there are any problems, he will enter my dreams again tonight to tell me the solution."

"I had just wanted to go over there to take a look after waking up this morning when I was called over by you, Imperial Grandfather. That's fine, I'll go to the Ministry of Works to take a look in a while, but your grandson is not full right now, and I'm afraid I won't be able to sleep tonight. If the immortal can't find me then, and it ruins our Great Ming's good affairs, that would be your grandson's sin."

Zhu Yuanzhang's face darkened; he didn't believe a single word of what Zhu Gaoxu said—this was a blatant threat.

But Zhu Yuanzhang had no way to deal with this either; the method was in the other person's hands. If this little monkey didn't say it when the time came, who could do anything about it?

Seeing this, Zhu Yuanzhang could only say helplessly, "Today, ah no, I grant you the right to enter the palace at any time. You don't need to report when you come to find me. From now on, come to the palace to eat whatever you want, and if you don't want to move after eating, just sleep in the palace. How about that?"

Zhu Gaoxu nodded at this without speaking, just staring at Lao Zhu the whole time.

Lao Zhu clearly understood Zhu Gaoxu's meaning; his face fell as he feigned anger and said, "Little monkey, don't be too greedy. Do you know how many people dream of the reward I'm giving you? In all the world, those with this right can be counted on one hand. You brat, just be content."

Zhu Yuanzhang was right; this reward meant being able to see the Emperor of Great Ming at any time. To be able to see him and communicate more often when there was nothing going on was something many people dreamed of.

But Zhu Gaoxu didn't think so and continued to stare at Lao Zhu.

Zhu Yuanzhang was starting to feel a bit unnerved by Zhu Gaoxu's stare and could only say helplessly, "Fine, fine, fine, I'll grant you a piece of land, how about that? Or how about I grant you a thousand acres of fertile fields?"

Zhu Gaoxu didn't care about these things at all.

In the future, when his father usurped the throne and let Zhu Di have his fun for a couple of years, once he inherited the throne, the whole world would be his. What did he need land for?

As for the fertile fields, he only needed money right now. He couldn't sell the fields Lao Zhu gave him, so what was the point of having them?

Thus, Zhu Gaoxu shook his head directly to show he wasn't interested.

Seeing this, Zhu Yuanzhang also began to get a headache. He suddenly discovered that he, the Emperor of Great Ming, actually had nothing left to give this little monkey.

What the little monkey wanted, he couldn't give, and what he could give, the other party didn't care for. He couldn't just find him a wife at such a young age, could he?

Thinking of this, Zhu Yuanzhang could only ask helplessly, "Then what do you want? Give me something practical, and don't go opening your lion's mouth at me."

Hearing this, Zhu Gaoxu stretched out his small hand, pressed his five fingers tightly together, and placed it in front of Zhu Yuanzhang.

Looking at this gesture, Zhu Yuanzhang was completely confused and asked with some doubt, "What does this mean?"

"A bit tight on cash..."

"..."

"Alright, alright, I'll have the private treasury give you one thousand taels of silver."

Hearing this, Zhu Gaoxu finally revealed a long-lost smile.

And seeing Zhu Gaoxu smile, Zhu Yuanzhang instead let out a huge sigh of relief.

Seeing that this matter had been turned over, Zhu Yuanzhang spoke to Zhu Gaoxu about the recruitment of soldiers again.

"I heard you had Mao Xiang recruit ten thousand for the New Army and select the elites from them, and you even said it was my intention. You little monkey really know how to take advantage of my loopholes now."

The so-called elite soldiers in ancient times mostly referred to able-bodied men aged eighteen to thirty.

And Zhu Gaoxu's meaning was that not only did the age have to be qualified, but they also had to be outstanding in other aspects.

Zhu Gaoxu had nothing to say about this; he also didn't believe Zhu Yuanzhang would lecture him over such a small matter.

Sure enough, Zhu Yuanzhang did not make things difficult for him; instead, he fully supported him.

"I have already issued an edict to the surrounding prefectures and counties, telling them to select elite soldiers to help Mao Xiang with the selection. When the new recruits arrive, there is an old Military Camp by the hunting grounds outside the imperial city; we will arrange them there when the time comes."

Zhu Yuanzhang had been a soldier, so he thought very thoroughly about these things and had already gone to prepare them long ago.

Zhu Gaoxu nodded at this, indicating he understood.

"If you have any difficulties when the new recruits arrive, tell me. Right now, many ministers are waiting to see your joke, and they are also waiting to see mine, so you must produce some results for me."

Zhu Gaoxu understood what Zhu Yuanzhang meant.

Zhu Yuanzhang was bearing a lot of pressure to let him lead the troops. Although he hadn't discussed it with him beforehand, how was this not a sign of his trust?

Subsequently, Zhu Yuanzhang spoke to Zhu Gaoxu about the matters needing attention when leading troops.

Finally, the conversation shifted, and he brought up yesterday's matter again.

"I heard you caught someone at Wanhua Pavilion yesterday?"

Zhu Gaoxu nodded. This wasn't a secret; the commotion yesterday was quite large, and there were many people in Wanhua Pavilion at the time. Plus, he had the Embroidered Uniform Guard help with the arrest. It was no surprise that Zhu Yuanzhang knew about this, just as he knew he had taken Zhu Gaochi to a brothel.

"That matter was done by the Embroidered Uniform Guard, but I didn't expect it to be done so sloppily. I don't care what you talked about with that person yesterday, and I don't care how you intend to deal with him, but remember one thing: have as little to do with people from the pugilistic world as possible."