Chapter 51: I Xu Nuo in the Name of the Emperor

Qi Jiguang entered the capital to receive the reward and was conferred the title of Count of Qian'an. Yang Bo opposed it in the hall and was told by Zhang Juzheng about "discussing traces" or "discussing the heart." The court dispute had just ended when the urgent report from the border entered the Fengtian Hall. Zhang Juzheng's heart-piercing blow struck the heart of the Jin Faction, requesting a censor to go to Xuanfu and Datong to inspect the construction of the Great Wall.

At this time, Ge Ge Shouli's attitude became extremely important. The Emperor asked Ge Ge Shouli who should be sent.

Ge Ge Shouli stepped out and bowed his head: "Your subject thinks that Li Le, the Supervising Secretary of the Ministry of War, is suitable."

Li Le was a successful candidate in the fifth year of Emperor Longqing, and that year Zhang Zhang Juzheng was the chief examiner. The meaning was very clear: the Chief Grand Secretary wanted to investigate, so he would arrange for the Chief Grand Secretary's people to go.

When the name Li Le came out, Zhang Zhang Juzheng was startled. Had Ge Ge Shouli finally figured it out? He was a man from Shandong, mixing with people from Shanxi every day. He thought the Jin Faction was his own people, but the Jin Faction never regarded him as their own people.

Ge Ge Shouli was not beyond saving.

Zhu Zhu Yijun did not know who Li Le was, but looking at Zhang Zhang Juzheng's surprise, Wang Wang Chonggu's astonishment, Yang Bo's mixed feelings, and the confusion of the court officials, he somewhat understood that this Li Le was probably Zhang Zhang Juzheng's man.

Zhu Zhu Yijun thought for a moment and said: "In that case, this matter is left to Prime Minister Zhang to handle. I am young and have little virtue, relying on the civil and military officials inside and outside to assist."

"Your subject obeys the decree." Zhang Zhang Juzheng bowed his head and accepted the order.

Zhu Zhu Yijun smiled and did not answer. He stood up, flicked his sleeves, and said: "General Qi, follow me."

As soon as the young Emperor finished speaking, Feng Bao shouted in a high-pitched voice: "Retire from court!"

"Your subjects respectfully send off Your Majesty." The officials paid their respects again. The sky of the Great Ming had finally changed.

Under the guidance of a young eunuch, Qi Qi Jiguang came to the Martial Arts Room. The young Emperor had changed into his martial arts clothes and, with his sparring partners, began his daily martial arts training.

The morning court was held in the Fengtian Hall today, so the lectures were stopped for a day. He was the Emperor, and no one dared to let him take a break, but he did not stop his martial arts practice for a day.

"The training is based on the 'New Book of Discipline' and 'Practical Records of Military Training,' which were written by General Qi. Whether the training is according to the method, I ask General Qi to correct it." Zhu Zhu Yijun began his martial arts practice.

As soon as Zhu Zhu Xizhong heard this, the fire in his heart was ignited again! Even though he knew the young Emperor was fanning the flames, he was still angry!

Very angry!

Who are you looking down on!

Qi Qi Jiguang watched for a long time and asked in a low voice beside Zhu Zhu Xizhong with a complicated expression: "Is the Commander always this bold?"

This is the Emperor!

The Commander of the North Town Fudesi of the Great Ming Embroidered Uniform Guards actually dared to train the young Emperor so ruthlessly. This was no longer just general boldness!

"His Majesty requested it himself. For over a month, he has never stopped." Zhu Zhu Xizhong said with a complicated expression. He did not train ruthlessly, but the young Emperor was not happy, fanning the flames in various ways. Every time he opened his mouth, it made people angry. Back and forth, Zhu Zhu Xizhong had no other way. The imperial order could not be violated.

"His Majesty has great perseverance!" Qi Qi Jiguang was one of the few military experts in the Great Ming. He knew that in martial arts practice, the most important thing was perseverance. Of course, it also depended on innate conditions. Some people had congenital heart disease and could not engage in strenuous activities, so they were naturally destined to have nothing to do with martial arts.

After warming up, Zhu Zhu Yijun began to stand on stakes. Not long after, he began to sprint and run back and forth. The benefits of the stability of the lower body were very obvious. In the sprint and run back and forth, the center of gravity changed constantly. Because of the stability of the lower body, his movements became very smooth, even flowing like water.

In a month of high-intensity training, the young Emperor, who was originally a bit chubby, finally lost five catties. This was mainly because the Emperor did not control his diet. The Emperor's main purpose was not to lose weight, but to train for physical fitness and to become a soldier.

Qi Qi Jiguang was broad-shouldered and thick-armed, and his general's belly was thicker than a bucket. Fighting battles meant sleeping in the open, and sometimes he could not eat well for three to five days. Fat is combat power; otherwise, when encountering the enemy, one would not even be able to pick up a knife, which would make it impossible to fight.

Zhu Zhu Yijun finally finished his physical training. The sword-bearing attendants, military nobles, and young eunuchs began to play football. There were no rules, no techniques, just physical confrontation.

"Your Majesty." Seeing that the young Emperor had finished training, Qi Qi Jiguang and Zhu Zhu Xizhong hurriedly paid respects.

"General Qi." Zhu Zhu Yijun held a square towel, wiping the sweat from his forehead. Sweat poured down like rain, his heart beat like a drum, and he gulped down a bowl of warm rock sugar pear water.

Zhu Zhu Yijun looked at Zhu Zhu Xizhong on the side and asked: "Has the Commander been diligent in training?"

"His Majesty is still young, and it is somewhat too hard." Qi Qi Jiguang's first sentence was about human feelings. He praised the young Emperor for his extraordinary perseverance, being able to endure such hardship; and praised the Commander for his dedication, obviously very diligent, perfectly answering His Majesty's question.

"Thank you, Commander." Zhu Zhu Yijun heard this and bowed to Zhu Zhu Xizhong, which was considered a disciple's courtesy.

In Zhang Zhang Juzheng's lectures, Zhu Zhu Yijun also performed this disciple's courtesy. Under the strict rites, bowing was already a great respect. Who let Zhu Zhu Yijun, besides being a ten-year-old child, have the most important identity as the Emperor?

"Your subject is ashamed to accept." Zhu Zhu Xizhong hurriedly returned the courtesy. Every time His Majesty bowed, it made Zhu Zhu Xizhong feel flattered. Although it had been over a month, the Commander was still not used to an Emperor who respected military men so much.

What did Qi Qi Jiguang see?

He saw the Great Ming Emperor's respect for military men!

This made a hope that should not have existed rise in his heart: that the Great Ming would one day have an Emperor who valued military affairs. However, he quickly ground this trace of hope to nothing.

Qi Qi Jiguang was already forty-four years old and had passed the age of no confusion. He had experienced too much and had no confusion about life. This trace of hope should not have existed, so he should not have longed for it. He had experienced too many disappointments.

These disappointments were many, many. When he was eighteen, he saw the Japanese pirates burning, killing, and plundering, doing all kinds of evil. He wanted to kill the thieves but had no generals to mobilize and no army to use. He wrote: "Clouds protect the tooth-pick full, stars contain the treasure sword horizontal; conferring a marquis is not my intention, I only hope the sea waves will be calm!"

At the age of forty-four, the young Emperor asked him if he could pacify the northern captives in ten years with twenty thousand troops! Could he have iron horses and thousands of miles of spirit like a tiger?

He knew he could, absolutely could.

"Your subject..." Qi Qi Jiguang's gaze was extremely firm. He stood straight and quite definitely wanted to answer the young Emperor's question.

"No, I said, you don't need to answer, I already know the answer." Zhu Zhu Yijun saw something. He saw the intense, almost tangible unwillingness in Qi Qi Jiguang's eyes, the unwillingness of having talent but not being able to use it, the unwillingness of being regarded as a wart and not being able to display his talents!

It was a strong, painful unwillingness!

Zhu Zhu Yijun's mouth curled into a smile, and soon this smile slowly melted, turning into a sunny, bright, and open smile.

"I promise you, Qi Qi Jiguang, I will not let you wait too long for the sharpest sword of the Great Ming. There will eventually be a day when it leaves its sheath." Zhu Zhu Yijun interrupted Qi Qi Jiguang. He did not need Qi Qi Jiguang's promise; he was promising in the name of the Emperor.

"Your subject obeys the decree!" Qi Qi Jiguang bowed, paying respects very respectfully. He heard the certainty in the young Emperor's voice. He knew that the young Emperor was not joking, nor was someone teaching him, but the Emperor himself was promising.

Perhaps, possibly, probably, should, maybe the Great Ming really had such a day, the day when the Great Ming army's military prestige shone!

Qi Qi Jiguang bowed his head and gave a bitter smile. He did not know why he, at the age of no confusion, suddenly gave birth to such a strong ambition, looking forward to the day when the Great Ming army would have iron horses and thousands of miles of spirit like a tiger, looking forward to the day when the Great Ming army's military prestige would shine!

Zhu Zhu Yijun said with a smile: "Go and see the two Empress Dowagers."

"Your subject is an external minister, it is inconvenient." Qi Qi Jiguang hurriedly replied. An external minister meeting the harem, even if it was Empress Dowager Li who acted on behalf of imperial power, was not in accordance with the rules.

"General Qi is now the Count of Qian'an, a military noble. How can you say you are an external minister?" Zhu Zhu Yijun said with a smile: "The Commander can meet the Empress Dowager, and General Qi can too."

"If someone criticizes an external minister, it is because they do not understand the rules."

Qi Qi Jiguang finally reacted. He was already a military noble and had a title. Having a title meant that his wife would have a title, which was a status.

He was not yet used to this change in status. Zhu Zhu Xizhong came from the Duke of Cheng's mansion and was also a military noble.

The rites were strict. The two Empress Dowagers did not cause trouble for Qi Qi Jiguang, but sat behind a curtain. With everyone watching, no rumors would spread, so it was not considered meeting the Empress Dowager.

"Mother, Mother." Zhu Zhu Yijun bowed to pay respects.

Empress Dowager Li already knew about the Fengtian Hall. She said quite solemnly: "General Qi is already a military noble. It is probably inappropriate to be a disciple of the Quanchu Guild Hall again."

"No, I said, you don't need to answer; I already know the answer." Zhu Zhu Yijun saw something. He saw the intense, almost tangible unwillingness in Qi Qi Jiguang's eyes—the unwillingness of someone who has talent but cannot display it, the unwillingness of being treated like a wart and having no way to spread his wings!

He was unwilling to be a redundant and useless object. He knew he wasn't. It was an unwillingness so intense it was painful!

Zhu Zhu Yijun's mouth curled into a smile, and soon this smile slowly bloomed into a sunny, bright, and cheerful smile.

"I promise you, Qi Qi Jiguang, the sharpest sword of the Great Ming—I will not let you wait too long. There will eventually be a day when it leaves its sheath." Zhu Zhu Yijun interrupted Qi Qi Jiguang. He did not need Qi Qi Jiguang's promise; he was making a promise in the name of the Emperor.

"This subject obeys the decree!" Qi Qi Jiguang bowed, performing the salute very respectfully. He heard the certainty in the young Emperor's voice. He knew that the Emperor was not joking, nor was someone else teaching him; it was the Emperor himself making the promise.

Perhaps, possibly, probably, should, maybe there really would be such a day for the Great Ming, the day when the Great Ming's military might would shine with heavenly prestige!

Qi Qi Jiguang bowed with a bitter smile. He did not know why, at the age of forty, he had suddenly developed such a strong sense of ambition, looking forward to the day when the Great Ming's military would be armored and armed, with the spirit to swallow ten thousand miles like a tiger, looking forward to the day when the Great Ming's military might would shine with heavenly prestige!

Zhu Zhu Yijun said with a smile, "Meet the two Empresses Dowager."

"This subject is an external official; it is highly inconvenient." Qi Qi Jiguang hurriedly replied. For an external official to meet the inner palace, even the Empress Dowager Li who was acting on behalf of the imperial power, was against the rules.

"General Qi is now the Earl of Qian'an, a noble, a military official. How can you call yourself an external official?" Zhu Zhu Yijun said with a smile, "The Regional Military Commissioner can meet the Empress Dowager, and General Qi can too."

"If someone complains about an external official, it is because they do not understand the rules."

Qi Qi Jiguang finally realized that he was now a military noble with a title. Having a title meant his wife would have a rank; this was a status.

He was not yet used to this change in status. Zhu Zhu Xizhong came from the Duke of Cheng's mansion and was also a military noble.

The rites were strict. The two Empresses Dowager did not cause trouble for Qi Qi Jiguang, but instead lowered the curtain. With everyone watching, no rumors would spread, so it would not count as meeting the Empresses Dowager.

"Mother, Mother." Zhu Zhu Yijun bowed slightly as a salute.

The Empress Dowager Li already knew about the affairs of the Fengtian Hall. She said quite solemnly, "General Qi is already a military noble. It would be inappropriate to continue to be a disciple of the Quanchu Association."