The Ming Dynasty: Reshaping the Land

Chapter 40 Fengyang Trip

"What else could it mean? It's just what the imperial edict says!" Li Jinglong said nonchalantly.

In Zhu's imperial edict, Li Jinglong was ordered to escort Prince Qin, Zhu Shuang, to Zhongdu Fengyang. The edict also stipulated that the journey was not permitted to pass through any post stations, and that Zhu Shuang was not allowed to ride in any vehicles or on any horses.

"But if we don't pass through a post station, are you going to rest in the wilderness, brother?" Li Zengzhi asked, puzzled.

Li Jinglong nodded and voiced his guess: "After all, he's escorting a prince; perhaps His Majesty is considering other implications!"

However, this would put Zhu Shuang in a difficult position. Not only would he not be allowed a carriage, but he wouldn't even be allowed to ride a horse. This was clearly a way to make Zhu Shuang walk all the way from Nanjing to Fengyang.

That's over two hundred li away. By the time Zhu Shuang gets there, it will probably take him ten or eight days, and he'll probably be completely exhausted.

Upon hearing this, Li Zengzhi sneered, "It seems His Majesty is truly angry this time. The Prince of Qin's feet will probably be worn out by the time he reaches Fengyang!"

"Hmph!" Li Jinglong snorted lightly, "For what the King of Qin did, merely making him walk a little over two hundred li is a paltry sum!"

"Brother, it will take you at least seven or eight days to make this round trip. If the Prince of Qin doesn't cooperate on the way, it could take ten days or half a month. What about home?" Li Fangying asked from the side.

Li Jinglong's heart skipped a beat. If Li Fangying hadn't reminded him, Li Jinglong would have forgotten that, given Zhu Shuang's personality, it would be strange if she cooperated on the way!

"At home, everything will be arranged by Mother. If I need to intervene, either wait for me to return, or Zengzhi will go in my place!" Li Jinglong thought for a moment and then gave his instructions.

"Don't worry, brother. Fangying and I will take care of things at home!" Li Zengzhi patted his chest and assured him.

Li Jinglong had figured it out: as long as it wasn't about getting Li Zengzhi to go to school, he was happy to do anything else!

Li Jinglong nodded and added, "Alright! You two brothers should discuss anything. If you really can't make up your minds, just send me a message."

"Understood, elder brother!" Li Zengzhi and Li Fangying replied respectively.

The next morning, Li Jinglong, accompanied by Li Er, went to the Embroidered Uniform Guard with a squad of men. After arriving at the Prince of Qin's residence, they escorted the displeased Zhu Shuang and began walking towards Yifeng Gate.

Leaving Nanjing through Yifeng Gate, the group crossed the Yangtze River by boat and set foot on the land north of the river before heading towards Chuzhou.

After walking for only an hour, Zhu Shuang started clamoring for a rest, and Li Jinglong had no choice but to wave his hand, signaling the whole team to rest on the spot.

Li Jinglong dismounted and sat down to the side. Upon seeing this, Li Er immediately handed him a water bottle.

Meanwhile, the servants of the Prince's mansion were bringing Zhu Shuang water and pastries to help him replenish his energy.

"Li Jiujiang, are you feeling better now that you see me suffering?" Zhu Shuang sneered.

"Your Highness, do you think I've had a comfortable experience after all this?" Li Jinglong replied indifferently.

"Hmph!" Zhu Shuang turned his head to the side and settled down to rest.

Just a quarter of an hour later, Li Jinglong immediately mounted his horse and called out, "Let's go!"

Except for Zhu Shuang and a few servants and guards from the Prince's mansion, almost everyone in the group was on horseback.

Zhu Shuang was quite cooperative. On the first day, they walked nearly fifty miles. At this pace, they should be able to reach Fengyang in about five or six days.

In the evening, Li Jinglong and his party camped on an open space by the official road. After arranging for the night watchmen, Li Jinglong went to the campfire in the middle of the camp to rest and eat.

Although it was the height of summer, the night had already turned cool, and there was even a slight chill in the air.

Zhu Shuang, meanwhile, was already resting not far from the fire, leaning against the bedding roll prepared by the servants.

At the end of the day, the most tired were Zhu Shuang and the people from the Prince of Qin's mansion. After all, since their master was walking, these guards and servants dared not ride horses.

Looking at the servants bustling about, Li Jinglong teased Zhu Shuang, "Your Highness, I think you should let the servants of your palace start riding horses tomorrow! Otherwise, they have to serve you all day long. You, as a prince, really don't know how to be considerate of your subordinates!"

Zhu Shuang glanced sideways at Li Jinglong, his tone softening after a long day: "Li Jiujiang, you don't need to sow discord here. I have never stopped them from riding horses; they chose not to ride themselves. How can you blame it on me?"

"Why did you do this? You committed evil deeds for a time, but you'll be scolded by the Crown Prince and His Majesty later!" Li Jinglong shook his head.

"Kid, no matter what, I'm still your cousin. Don't be so disrespectful to me!" Zhu Shuang glanced at Li Jinglong and said nothing more.

Li Jinglong smiled. He had originally planned to tease Zhu Shuang a bit, but who would have thought that Zhu Shuang would be like a dead dog all day, completely unresponsive!

In the end, Li Jinglong and his group still took six days to travel. The first three days were fine, but in the last three days, Zhu Shuang would collapse on the ground after walking a certain distance each day and would not cooperate at all.

Left with no other choice, Li Jinglong and his group had to go along with them!

After arriving in Fengyang, Li Jinglong handed Zhu Shuang over to the ancestral mausoleum administration. After resting for one night, he led a group of Imperial Guards and returned to Nanjing in just one and a half days.

If it hadn't gotten dark when they reached Jiangbei, preventing them from crossing the river, Li Jinglong and the others could have returned in a day.

Upon arriving in Nanjing, Li Jinglong immediately went to the palace to report to Emperor Zhu.

Inside the Hall of Diligent Governance, Emperor Zhu, dressed in bright yellow robes, sat behind his desk. When Li Jinglong entered, he merely glanced at him before turning his attention back to the memorials on the desk.

"Your Majesty, I, Li Jinglong, have returned from escorting the Prince of Qin to Fengyang as ordered!" Li Jinglong said respectfully, bowing.

"No need for formalities!" Old Zhu asked again, "Was the journey smooth?"

"Your Majesty, everything went smoothly!"

"The King of Qin didn't make things difficult for you?" Old Zhu looked up at Li Jinglong.

Li Jinglong smiled. Thinking of the prince's miserable state, Li Jinglong finally understood why Old Zhu had made Zhu Shuang walk to Fengyang!

Li Jinglong cupped his hands and said, "Your Majesty, thanks to Your Majesty, the Prince of Qin did not make things difficult for me!"

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded, then stood up and looked at Li Jinglong with a playful smile: "I heard you told the Crown Prince that Tang He's relocation policy was inappropriate?"

Li Jinglong's heart skipped a beat, wondering why Lao Zhu had brought this up.

"Your Majesty, I was merely joking that day; it was not to be taken seriously!"

"What, you can talk to the Crown Prince, but you can't talk to us?" Old Zhu snorted.

"Your Majesty, those were merely my own words, casual conversations with the Crown Prince. I dared not speak them to Your Majesty!" Li Jinglong replied respectfully, though inwardly he felt as if facing a formidable enemy.

If I were to object to the maritime ban policy personally decided by you, Old Zhu, I wonder if I would even be able to leave the Jinshen Hall!

"Ha!" Old Zhu sneered. "Is there anything you wouldn't dare to do?"