Chapter 378: Just Remnants of the Old Era

"It seems that our Nagasaki Governor Xu Wei hasn't had as calm a life in Nagasaki as it appears on the surface." Zhu Yijun tapped the memorial in his hand, his eyes somewhat ruthless.

Xu Wei's time in Nagasaki hadn't been smooth sailing. Exploring the seas was never that easy.

Takahashi Muneshige being able to get on the ship and arrive in the Great Ming smoothly was not an accident.

Takahashi Muneshige had gotten on the ship through the connections of the Muromachi Shogunate. That is to say, Takahashi Muneshige's status on the five-masted ocean-crossing ship was as an attendant to Ashikaga Yoshiaki, while Tachibana Ginchiyo was a prisoner and gift of the Great Ming. They were not in the same section, so there wouldn't be any interaction.

Knowing that Tachibana Ginchiyo was a gift sent by the Nagasaki Governor's Office to the capital, Takahashi Muneshige was still able to get on the ship through Ashikaga Yoshiaki. This was enough to show that in Kyushu Island, there was still a huge resistance force and consensus, opposing the Great Ming's rule in Nagasaki.

Takahashi Muneshige being able to come to the Great Ming was a result, a manifestation of the will to resist.

"Whether it is Xu Wei or the National Surname Yin Zhengmao, they are all adults. They can't just come home crying when they are wronged. When they are out, they report the good news and not the bad, not wanting to worry the sovereign father or the court. If they can solve it themselves, most of the time they solve it themselves. Only when it is truly impossible to solve or a matter of policy will they report it to the court." Feng Bao was very clear about Xu Wei's mentality.

Before His Majesty was married, he would always have "as the teacher said" or "go to Xishan to ask the ancestors" on his lips. After His Majesty was married, he rarely said such things. He had grown up, and he had to bear the wind and rain himself.

Feng Bao was the eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial. As the inner prime minister, he had to give His Majesty some reference opinions.

Every support the Great Ming Emperor gave to the two Governor's Offices was an additional bet, which required paying a price in the court to convince the court ministers.

Reporting the good news and not the bad, not letting the Emperor and the court worry too much, because the capital officials also had to weigh the pros and cons. If the investment in the Governor's Offices was too large, the Great Ming might stop its investment in the Governor's Offices under the wind of precise calculation.

Precise calculation calculated away the Jilin Shipyard and the Jiaozhi Provincial Administration Commission; it was also under the precise calculation after the death of the Jingtai Emperor that the Datong Guard and Quanning Guard became pastures for the Uriankhai; it calculated away the Ordos Loop; and it was only then that there was the controversy of recovering the Ordos Loop during the Jiajing era, where the disadvantages outweighed the advantages; it calculated away the Strait of Ma Liujia and calculated away Luzon.

Neither Xu Wei nor Yin Zhengmao was willing to let the court invest too much, and providing returns higher than expected was the way the two governors sought survival.

"Xu Wei doesn't say anything—is it because he has the confidence to solve it?" Zhu Yijun tapped his fingers on the table, seemingly asking Feng Bao with some uncertainty, or perhaps asking himself.

Feng Bao pondered for a moment and said: "If it really couldn't be solved, the gentlemen would definitely say so. Just like the Kong family in Yanzhou, Shandong—whether the Strait of Ma Liujia is to be fought or negotiated, the decisive battle between the Otomo and Shimazu families, the Nagasaki Governor's Office was unable to militarily intervene and sought help from the Great Ming navy. Xu Wei doesn't say anything, obviously, he can handle it."

"Hmm, Eunuch Feng's words are reasonable." Zhu Yijun's fingers slowly stopped. They weren't children anymore. Seeking help from home when they couldn't hold on wasn't anything shameful. Zhu Yijun believed Xu Wei could distinguish the importance. The problem wasn't as severe as imagined.

It was just remnants of the old era. After the Great Ming thoroughly defeated the Otomo and Shimazu families, the daimyo who were unwilling to lose their interests were resisting stubbornly. Like grasshoppers in autumn, they always had to jump a few times to prove they had lived.

"Since this Takahashi Muneshige is provoking so high-profile, who should I send to teach him a lesson?" Zhu Yijun threw this question to Zhu Yiliao. He had a sparring partner of twenty people, all selected brave warriors of the Great Ming, of similar age to Zhu Yiliao.

A gentleman deceives with righteousness. Takahashi Muneshige dared to challenge because he had made up his mind that the Great Ming would only send opponents of similar age to fight.

Ashikaga Yoshiaki's abacus was heard by Zhu Yijun even in the Li Palace. Actually, it was very simple: Ashikaga Yoshiaki was just striving for better surrender conditions. Takahashi Muneshige, as the first card Ashikaga Yoshiaki played, was to show the value of his united front. Those remnants of the old era still needed interests.

A warrior made a vow to save his princess from a full-level dragon castle. So, to see the dragon entrenched in the castle, he had to walk through countless checkpoints. The dragon's attendants were the enemies the warrior had to face.

Prince Lu, Zhu Yiliao, excitedly selected a few figures to deal with Takahashi Muneshige's challenge. What kind of "Peerless of the West"? Once in the Great Ming, even a fierce dragon crossing the river had to coil up!

The dragon always appeared last. Zhu Yijun prayed with all his heart that this "Peerless of the West" could walk in front of him, the dragon, covered in wounds.

The day of the duel challenge arrived quickly. Zhu Yijun arranged the location of the duel in the Wu Ying Building of the Northern Camp. Everything for the duel was ready. Zhu Yijun laid out melon seeds, peanuts, and french fries, preparing to watch the show.

Takahashi Muneshige's physique was already very robust among the Japanese. When he was born in the Yoshihisa residence in Jiancheng, his mother nearly died in childbirth. He was exceptionally large from birth, so his father gave him the childhood name: Chikumamaru.

Takahashi Muneshige's father, Takahashi Shoun, performed outstandingly when Otomo Sorin besieged the Iwaya and Homman castles, becoming one of Otomo Sorin's fierce generals. On the back mountain of Iwaya Castle, Takahashi Muneshige accepted his father's uninterrupted physical training and battle simulations. From the age of six, Takahashi Muneshige had to defeat experts six years older than him, or he would be strictly punished.

Tachibana Ginchiyo's father invited the Takahashi father and son to be guests at Tachibana Castle, finally leaving Takahashi Muneshige as Tachibana Ginchiyo's fiancé, signing a marriage contract, and promising that after marriage, Takahashi Muneshige could inherit Tachibana Castle.

In the sixth year of Wanli, Takahashi Muneshige made great military contributions in the battle of Ryuzoji Takanobu invading Tachibana Castle.

Takahashi Muneshige was a matrilocal son-in-law of the Tachibana family. Now his fiancée had been sent to the Celestial Empire as a gift.

Amidst the announcements of the small eunuchs, Ashikaga Yoshiaki brought four people to the Great Ming Emperor. Each of these four people had a *chonmage* hairstyle—the top of the head was shaved, leaving only a tuft in the middle.

"The Great Ming canonized King of Japan, Shogun Ashikaga Yoshiaki, pays respects to Your Majesty. Your Majesty, ten thousand years, ten thousand years, ten thousand ten thousand years." Ashikaga Yoshiaki didn't want to be stuffed with socks and thrown out by the ceremonial officials because of a breach of etiquette, so there was nothing to pick on in terms of etiquette.

"Proclaim the edict." Zhu Yijun felt more uncomfortable the more he looked at this *chonmage* hairstyle, signaling Feng Bao to proclaim the edict. After Takahashi Muneshige was defeated, he would have them all shaved bald.

Feng Bao took a step forward. The small eunuch opened the imperial edict. Feng Bao flicked his whisk again and shouted in a high-pitched voice: "By the order of Heaven, the Emperor decrees:"

"The ancestors of the Great Ming canonized your ancestors as Kings of Japan. Japan is close to China. Since our Taizu Gao Emperor received the mandate of Heaven and unified the world, the Chengzu Wen Emperor was magnanimous and appointed the virtuous. Your King, Minamoto no Yoshimasa, was the first to submit, and we bestowed titles and grace. The succession has lasted for many years. Now Oda Nobunaga monopolizes power, long harboring covetousness, actually committing usurpation, exiling the King to the countryside, indulging in violence, and abusing the country. Grass, trees, birds, and beasts cannot find peace; Heaven and Earth and the spirits are all angry."

"The rebel chieftain Nobunaga's crimes are monstrous and cannot be tolerated by reason. The people of Japan have suffered from poison for years, which is deeply pitiable. The Heavenly Army goes to mourn the suffering of your people. Once the Heavenly Spear points, it will surely sweep away everything."

"The territory and subjects are handed over to you. You must not be fearful or lazy. Now we bestow upon you the title of King of Japan again. We will surely wash away the grievances in the underworld and resolve the suffering in the country, to fulfill the heart of Heaven that loves life, and to comfort the hope of your people for peace and health."

"The established laws of successive dynasties, spreading virtue and bestowing grace, are announced to the world so that all may hear."

"Respect this."

Ashikaga Yoshiaki bowed his head, seemingly respectful, but remained silent and did not accept the edict.

The place for proclaiming the edict was wrong. The King of Ryukyu, Shang Jiu, had an audience with the Great Ming Emperor at the Huangji Hall, not at the Wu Ying Building in the Northern Camp. This was clearly not a formal occasion for an audience at all. It was obvious that the Great Ming Emperor didn't take Ashikaga Yoshiaki seriously at all.

Secondly, the content of the imperial edict made it impossible for Ashikaga Yoshiaki to shout, "This minister accepts the edict and thanks the Emperor for his grace."

The suzerain relationship between the Great Ming and Japan was something Ashikaga Yoshiaki had to acknowledge as Shogun. His ancestor, Ashikaga Yoshimasa, had indeed accepted the Great Ming's canonization under the name Minamoto no Yoshimasa. This was an indisputable fact. That Ashikaga Yoshiaki could kneel before the Emperor today was still because of the golden seal passed down by his ancestors.

However, Ashikaga Yoshiaki actually supported Oda Nobunaga's actions.

Ashikaga Yoshiaki and Oda Nobunaga had a long honeymoon period. Their goals were the same: to let Japan end a hundred years of war. Even if they couldn't achieve the centralization of the Great Ming, they had to end the war and strife.

But in the imperial edict, Oda Nobunaga's actions became charges. If he accepted the edict today, Oda Nobunaga would become a criminal—a criminal recognized by both the Great Ming and the Muromachi Shogunate. Oda Nobunaga's idea of dominating the world, his proposition that the whole of Japan should have only one voice, was not wrong. Ashikaga Yoshiaki had just failed in the battle with Oda Nobunaga for the world.

In his long life of exile, Ashikaga Yoshiaki had thought more than once: let it be, hand over the golden seal, let Oda Nobunaga be the true ruler of the world, and hand over the great cause of unifying Japan to Oda Nobunaga.

As long as he accepted the edict, Oda Nobunaga would become a criminal.

And the Great Ming would obtain the justification for attacking Japan. It was he, Ashikaga Yoshiaki, who ran to the Great Ming to ask the Great Ming Emperor to mourn the people and punish the guilty. The Great Ming's attack would be upright, bright, and righteous.

The King of Ryukyu, Shang Jiu, had no such burden. Not to mention that most of the people in Ryukyu were immigrants from the Fujian and Zhejiang regions, the King of Ryukyu had been the Great Ming's own son from the beginning. He had been bullied by Japanese pirates to the point of not being able to live and ran to the Great Ming to ask his father to make the decision.

Ryukyu envoys liked to cry the most when they saw the Great Ming Emperor: the Great Ming gave Ryukyu life but abandoned it—what kind of fatherly behavior is this!

This made Ashikaga Yoshiaki's body tremble as he knelt on the ground.

On the other hand, the Great Ming's meaning was very clear: as for Japan's affairs, you, Ashikaga Yoshiaki, don't need to worry about it; the Great Ming Emperor has taken over.

This short imperial edict made Ashikaga Yoshiaki not dare to open his mouth to accept the edict.

Zhu Yijun leaned back in his grand master's chair, looking at Ashikaga Yoshiaki, not urging him, and even less threatening him. He was waiting for Ashikaga Yoshiaki to understand the pros and cons. If Ashikaga Yoshiaki accepted this edict today, it would be best. If he didn't, he would lose his value to the Great Ming, and there would be nothing left but a dead end. Today, he would let Ashikaga Yoshiaki be buried.

What status did Ashikaga Yoshiaki have to dare to covet the same treatment as King Shang Jiu? No matter how much King Shang Jiu acted out or how unpromising he was, he was still a biological son of the Great Ming. Even if King Shang Jiu's mother was Japanese, when King Shang Jiu ran into trouble, his first instinct was to beg the Great Ming to save his son; there was no act of defiance. For so many years, the annual tribute—just that fish oil—had never been interrupted. To put it bluntly, it was a family matter, an internal conflict.

Japanese pirates poisoning the Southeast, Japanese pirates fighting for tribute—how much chaos did they cause? The Japanese were rebellious sons who had betrayed the Great Ming. Not cutting Ashikaga Yoshiaki into pieces and feeding him to the dogs was to ensure the Great Ming had a name for its actions, and for the sake of the Nagasaki Governor's Office being upright.

"Your Majesty." Ashikaga Yoshiaki spoke. He said tremblingly: "Nobunaga's actions, although arrogant, are not those of a rebellious person. The sixty-six provinces of Japan each had their own rulers and were not unified. Until Nobunaga conquered and ruled, everyone submitted, and no one dared to be different. He is a hero."

"I like to speak the truth!" Zhu Yijun sat up straight, looked at Ashikaga Yoshiaki, and said: "You know that what Nobunaga did was a good thing for Japan, but why didn't you hand over the King's seal to him and let him be the true ruler of the world? Since you made the choice, why are you now speaking for Nobunaga and beautifying his words? Your behavior, isn't it 'taking off your clothes to earn silver, but putting on clothes to say you are a chaste woman'? Being a whore, yet still wanting to set up a memorial arch."

"There is no such logic."

"Why bother? You are already here, you are already in the Great Ming, why bother pretending!"

Zhang Juzheng actually didn't like the Emperor using dirty words, but looking at it now, Zhang Juzheng felt that His Majesty was right. This Ashikaga Yoshiaki, if he really had any thoughts, he would still be in Japan, still in Nagasaki, or even in Kyoto, instead of being in the Great Ming capital, kneeling before the Emperor and answering.

Being both and standing—inconsistent in heart and mouth.

Since Xu Wei and Sun Keyi went to Japan, the Great Ming had obtained a lot of intelligence about Japan. If one stood from the perspective of the Japanese, Oda Nobunaga was undoubtedly a fierce general sent by Heaven to Japan, a savior-like figure. The sixty-six provinces of Japan were each ruled by their own lords, constantly fighting each other, and the war had lasted for a hundred years. Oda Nobunaga's appearance allowed the Japanese in the darkness to see the dawn.

But standing from the perspective of the Great Ming, Oda Nobunaga kneading the scattered sand of Japan together was inevitably a serious threat to the Great Ming.

Zhang Juzheng didn't feel that His Majesty had done anything wrong. His Majesty was the Emperor of the Great Ming, the sovereign father of the Great Ming's subjects. His actions should naturally consider the Great Ming's interests. Abandoning the Great Ming's fundamental interests for the sake of titles like "Heavenly Khan" or "King of Kings" was undesirable.

"Your Majesty, can this minister still return to Japan?" Ashikaga Yoshiaki bowed again and asked through gritted teeth.

"No." Zhu Yijun said very frankly: "If you go back, how can I explain it to the Great Ming soldiers who fought? The Great Ming soldiers fought hard, all to make a wedding dress for a person like you who is greedy for life, afraid of death, indecisive, and two-faced. Wouldn't I be cutting myself off from the world?"

The interest group of opening the seas would become larger and larger. Japanese silver and sulfur were interests demanded by the interest group. How could they let this guy go back? Even if he died, he had to be buried in the Great Ming.

"Don't harbor resentment. It was you who requested to come to the Great Ming, not Governor Xu who pressed your head and forced you onto the ship." Zhu Yijun very calmly reiterated that it was Ashikaga Yoshiaki who took the initiative. Xu Wei was a scholar; although he was bad, he didn't take the initiative to ask.

Xu Wei didn't use any means either; it was just that when Oda Nobunaga and Mori Terumoto wanted to assassinate him, the defense was always negligent, allowing the assassins to appear in front of Ashikaga Yoshiaki. At the last moment, at the final moment, Xu Wei brought people and arrived late.

What kind of bad intentions could a scholar have?

"This minister accepts the edict and thanks the Emperor for his holy grace!" Ashikaga Yoshiaki seemed to have made up his mind and accepted the imperial edict with great joy.

Huh?

Zhu Yijun immediately noticed Ashikaga Yoshiaki's joy, and then immediately understood this guy's thoughts. What he wanted was the promise not to return to Japan!

This guy was not a loyal and righteous person at all; he was a rat greedy for life and afraid of death.

Living in the Great Ming with food, drink, and play, he could receive a salary of 20,000 taels of silver a year. 20,000 taels was really not a small amount, equivalent to the annual expenditure of nearly twenty Quanchu Guild Halls.

Returning to Japan, Ashikaga Yoshiaki would have to face the fierce Oda Nobunaga, the cunning Mori Terumoto, and the frank Xu Wei. But in the Great Ming, he could live out his old age in peace.

Not letting him return to Japan = a stable life.

This was Ashikaga Yoshiaki himself. This was his biggest plan in coming to the capital. As for those remnants of the old era, Ashikaga Yoshiaki was going to settle permanently in the Great Ming, so how could he care about them?

"Good, good, good! Beloved minister, exempt from bowing, please rise quickly. I have already built a King of Japan's palace next to the Ryukyu King's palace. You can rest assured. In this regard, I will never treat you poorly. Starting this year, the private treasury will provide an additional 10,000 taels of silver for your expenses. Living in the capital is not easy." Zhu Yijun had a dog-like face. Ashikaga Yoshiaki accepted the edict and thanked him, and Zhu Yijun immediately became kind and pleasant, not mentioning the previous unhappiness at all.

"Every year?" Ashikaga Yoshiaki had just stood up, and hearing that there was another 10,000 taels, he asked tentatively.

"Naturally, it is every year. My golden words are irrevocable!" Zhu Yijun said decisively.

Ashikaga Yoshiaki didn't hesitate either, immediately kowtowed and shouted loudly: "This minister thanks the Emperor for his holy grace!"

This was so good. One shouted the price, and one bargained. Although the legal status of Japan was sold by Ashikaga Yoshiaki and Ashikaga Yoshiaki lost Japan, Ashikaga Yoshiaki obtained the guarantee of a luxurious life!

Takahashi Muneshige appeared. The helmet, composed of *fukigaeshi*, *hoshi-bachi*, and *aoi-eboshi*, looked somewhat majestic, and there were *shikoro* armor strings, *sendan-ita* on both sides of the armor, *tsurubashiri-ita* on the shoulders, *mae-kusazuri* in front of the armor, plus two samurai swords and a jet-black face mask. It looked somewhat majestic.

It was just "somewhat majestic." Those protective plates were all burdens. On the battlefield, this was the most eye-catching person among the eye-catching. His whole body was written with: "Come and hit me, come and hit me."

Whenever he fought against the Great Ming, such an eye-catching person appearing on the battlefield would immediately be shot into a hedgehog. I don't know how many flat-barreled guns and cannons were aimed at this guy, giving him a big slap in the face, telling him that the battlefield is not a stage, and not to stick so many flags on his body.

Takahashi Muneshige's outfit was because Japan's battlefield lacked sufficient and effective precision firearms and arrows.

The Warring States period in Japan was not like the village fights of the Great Ming. By the end of the tenth month of the seventh year of Wanli, the number of firearms in Japan was still very scarce, and iron cannons were scarce equipment.

When Yin Zhengmao was the Viceroy of Liangguang, two villages fought a group fight over water. Twelve tiger-crouching cannons were pulled out, and there were over a hundred muskets, not to mention long and short weapons. The fight was thrilling, and Yin Zhengmao directly sent guest soldiers to persuade them to stop fighting.

"I am Takahashi Muneshige of Tachibana Castle. Who comes? Report your name!" Takahashi Muneshige had been studying Chinese classics in addition to martial arts since he was six. His Chinese classics were very good, and he spoke in a straightforward manner.

"Xiong Tingbi of Jiangxia, guard of the Prince of Lu's estate, eleven years old." The newcomer wore a helmet. He was three years younger than Takahashi Mototora, but draped in a suit of iron-scaled armor, he appeared exceptionally heroic. This iron-scaled armor bore an exquisitely crafted five-chapter pattern; it was the Prince of Lu, Zhu Yiliu, who had lent his own iron-scaled armor to Xiong Tingbi to wear.

"Hmm, our Great Ming warrior is indeed heroic and extraordinary. Not bad. What was his name again? Xiong... Xiong what? Xiong Tingbi?!" Zhu Yijun gasped, making his own contribution to the Little Ice Age climate the Great Ming would face in the future!

"Stop!" Zhu Yijun didn't shout "start," but shouted "stop" loudly.

Zhu Yijun shouted loudly at Xiong Tingbi: "Xiong Tingbi, if you win, I will grant you a hereditary Company Commander rank and reward you with a hundred taels of silver. Let this 'Peerless in the West' see the strength of our Great Ming's elite soldiers. Begin!"

The script was indeed being performed according to Ashikaga Yoshiaki's expectations. The Great Ming, which was at a high moral disadvantage, did indeed send an opponent of similar age, and even three years younger. As long as Takahashi Muneshige could win and become famous in the Great Ming, it would be an explanation to those remnants of the old era, and it could also make the Great Ming Emperor pay more attention to Japan, so that he, Ashikaga Yoshiaki, could obtain better treatment.

Xiong Tingbi possessed extraordinary physical strength; by the age of six, he could already draw a bow with either hand.

Zhu Yijun, that great fluttering moth, flapped his wings desperately. Xiong Tingbi, who should have been herding cattle in Jiangxia, now appeared in the Prince of Lu's estate, becoming Zhu Yiliu's sparring partner.

"Xiong Da! Defeat him, and I will reward you with two beauties from the ten thousand nations!" Zhu Yiliu, who loved a spectacle, shouted at Xiong Tingbi. "Xiong Da" was the nickname Zhu Yiliu had given Xiong Tingbi, referring to his large build.

Xiong Tingbi smiled and fastened his face mask.

Takahashi Muneshige felt the humiliation given to him by the Great Ming court. They actually sent an eleven-year-old child! He was the "Peerless of the West"! He had been on the battlefield in the sixth year of Wanli!

Takahashi Mototora drew his katana. After a few cautious probes, he suddenly swung his blade. Xiong Tingbi did not retreat; instead, he pressed forward, grabbed the incoming katana with one hand, yanked it hard, and kicked Takahashi Mototora squarely in the chest.

This kick was powerful and heavy. Takahashi Mototora, caught completely unprepared, was kicked to the ground. Then, a massive figure descended from above. A sharp pain radiated from his abdomen—it was Xiong Tingbi's knee slamming into his gut. Takahashi Mototora spat out a mouthful of blood from beneath his dark mask. Xiong Tingbi did not stop, raining punch after punch onto Takahashi Mototora's helmet.

"The outcome is decided! Xiong Tingbi wins!" The referee, seeing the situation, immediately shouted loudly.

Xiong Tingbi raised his right fist and slammed it into Takahashi Mototora's face before finally stopping his flurry of blows.

"Unworthy of a single blow." Xiong Tingbi stood up and loosened his wrists.

Since receiving the order, Xiong Tingbi had made ample preparations. Even if he died on the ring, he had to make Takahashi Mototora look bad. Since he dared to cause such a stir, Takahashi Mototora must have had some tricks up his sleeve.

As it turned out, once on the stage, he didn't even last two rounds before being brutally beaten by Xiong Tingbi.

Just this? Just this? The "Peerless of the West" who was blown to the sky, just this?

Takahashi Mototora lay on the ground, doubting his life. When he slashed at his opponent, the opponent would either raise his weapon to resist, dodge, or attack where he had to defend, forcing him to retract his strike. Who grabs a weapon with their bare hands? He was there to make a name for himself, while Xiong Tingbi was there to fulfill the Emperor's holy decree, even carrying a belief in certain death.

"Hahahaha!" Zhu Yiliao laughed like a spoiled child. Of course, he was originally a spoiled child.

"Yiliao, come here. I have something to discuss with you." Zhu Yijun waved his hand with a smile, signaling Zhu Yiliao to come closer. His expression was extremely kind and amiable.

"Brother, if you have something to say, just say it." Zhu Yiliao was stunned. His imperial brother was too kind. He had never seen such a kind imperial brother. He was exactly like a big liar in a storybook!

Zhu Yijun immediately said: "I want this guard. Name your price. What reward do you want?"

Zhu Yiliao immediately took three steps back and said loudly: "Brother, this is my favorite guard, the head of the sparring partners. I also look for him to practice on weekdays. I hope you will forgive me for not being able to comply!"

Zhu Yijun frowned: "You refuse?"

Zhu Yiliao immediately shook his head and said: "You have to add money."

"Adding money is easy to talk about. Six beauties from ten thousand countries!" Zhu Yijun stretched out one hand and gestured a six. These six beauties from ten thousand countries, according to the established rules, were two years of rewards.

"The Emperor is wise!" Zhu Yiliu had accepted his imperial brother's order to send the eleven-year-old Xiong Tingbi into battle, which was itself a way to seek a future for Xiong Da. A talent like Xiong Tingbi was being buried in the Prince of Lu's estate; having the gift of beauties from the ten thousand nations was naturally the best outcome.

"Good, good, good!" Zhu Yijun's smile was almost unable to hold back.

"Xiong Tingbi, were you injured?" Zhu Yijun looked at Xiong Tingbi with some concern. Catching a blade with bare hands—what kind of death-defying fighting style was this?

"I thank Your Majesty for your holy grace; I was not injured." Xiong Tingbi showed his gauntlets. This pair of gauntlets had been made for him by Zhu Yiliu; they were made of solid steel and were extremely thick—usually used for cheating during sparring. Of course, Xiong Tingbi's timing for catching the blade with his bare hands had been extremely precise; this kick already possessed the bearing of a top expert in the youth division.

"Can you read?" Zhu Yijun asked again.

"I studied in a private school for two years." When he said this, Xiong Tingbi's eyes were clearly filled with sadness; he loved reading very much.

Zhu Yijun asked again: "Why didn't you continue?"

Xiong Tingbi said quite melancholically: "My family was poor, and I had no way to obtain books to read."

Zhu Yiliu, a spoiled child, felt Xiong Tingbi was a talent who would be buried in the Prince of Lu's estate for this very reason.

Xiong Tingbi's family was so poor that he couldn't attend school and had to herd cattle for a living, having only studied in a private school for two years.

Just reading for two years, he had already read much better than Zhu Yiliao.

Xiong Tingbi was so poor he had to herd cattle for others, yet he eventually passed the Great Ming imperial examinations.

"How did you come to the capital?" Zhu Yijun asked somewhat strangely.

Asking for monthly votes, Awoo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ===== CHAPTER 379 =====