Chapter 27: Zhu Di's Astonishment—It Was Zhu Zheng All Along!

"Your Highness."

"We have just received an urgent report, a dispatch of victory from General Zhang."

"Miyun City has been successfully captured."

The messenger bowed deeply before Zhu Di, holding up the victory report with both hands.

"So quickly?"

"How long has Zhang Yu been attacking Miyun? How could the city be taken so soon?" Zhu Di asked in surprise.

The messenger did not hesitate, immediately presenting the military report respectfully to Zhu Di. Zhu Di took the report and opened it quickly, his movements betraying his eagerness. It was clear that he was desperate to know the outcome of the battle.

As the report unfurled, Zhu Di’s eyes widened in disbelief. He glanced briefly at Guo Zi, who was waiting on the right side of the hall, before quickly snapping his gaze back to the document. Once he had finished reading the entire report, his face relaxed, and he burst into laughter.

"Hahaha!"

"Lord Guo, you have truly sent a fine son-in-law into my army."

The sudden remark left Guo Zi feeling puzzled. He looked at Zhu Di and asked, "Your Highness! What has happened to my son-in-law?"

As he asked this, Guo Zi felt a tremor of apprehension.

"Your son-in-law is excellent."

"In this battle for Miyun, he has rendered a great service to me. He fought valiantly to breach the city, was the first to charge inside, and once within the walls, he killed over a hundred enemies with his own hands. Even Li Tao, the Assistant Regional Commander sent by Song Zhong to garrison Miyun, was personally slain by Zhu Zheng."

"This battle is a resounding victory for our forces."

"Our casualties are under a thousand, we have killed over two thousand of the enemy, and captured more than five thousand. A complete triumph!"

Zhu Di laughed with excitement, clearly overjoyed. This victory meant he could finally get a good night's sleep.

"Miyun was taken so easily?"

Qiu Fu’s expression was also tinged with surprise; clearly, the result had exceeded his expectations as well.

"That is why I say Lord Guo’s son-in-law is a great hero."

"According to Zhang Yu’s report, this son-in-law of yours is extraordinary—a man who leads from the front, brave and daring."

"He single-handedly used a chariot to break through the city gate and fought with immense courage. The success of this battle is, in no small part, due to Zhu Zheng."

"As of now, Zhang Yu has used his authority to promote Zhu Zheng to the rank of Military Marquis, placing him in command of two thousand men."

"Moreover, for the feat of slaying an enemy commander, I must carefully consider how to reward him," Zhu Di said with a broad smile.

"Your Highness," Qiu Fu asked, looking at Guo Zi in confusion, "is this man named Zhu Zheng really Lord Guo’s son-in-law? Why have I never heard of him?"

"It is not strange that General Qiu has not heard of him," Guo Zi replied. "My son-in-law previously served as a mere yamen runner in Beiping Prefecture, and his family runs a small distillery. He has never cared for officialdom and has always refused any help I offered him."

"I will not hide it from you, General Qiu. At first, I provided Zhu Zheng with a pass to leave the city and a new identity. After all, this uprising is a matter of life and death, and I did not want my daughter, her husband, or my two grandchildren to be dragged into it."

"Yet, the boy refused to leave. He first joined the logistics corps, and now he has entered the main combat army. I never imagined he possessed such formidable strength."

Guo Zi spoke with great emotion. It was clear that he, too, had underestimated Zhu Zheng. He had always known his son-in-law to be clever, loyal, and kind, and he treated his daughter well. Although his background was not prestigious, his character was sound, and since his daughter loved him, Guo Zi had given his blessing. But looking at it now, this son-in-law of his seemed anything but ordinary.

"Lord Guo," Qiu Fu said with a note of regret, "you should have sent your son-in-law to the army sooner. If you had, he might already be one of the Prince’s most capable generals."

"Who can say for sure?" Guo Zi shook his head with a faint smile.

Zhu Di, meanwhile, was lost in thought, contemplating how to further reward Zhu Zheng. He understood the current situation well: to win, and for this rebellion to succeed, he had to rely on his troops. He needed to set a benchmark for the Beiping army—and for any who might join them later.

Without a doubt, the emergence of Zhu Zheng was exactly the benchmark Zhu Di needed. With a little embellishment, the narrative would be perfect: a humble yamen runner who answered the Prince’s call to join the logistics, realized the corruption of the imperial court, and responded to Prince Yan’s mission to "cleanse the court and save the nation." From a mere logistics soldier, he had risen to become a Military Marquis, a warrior who breached cities and slew enemy commanders. Once this news spread through the entire army, it would surely provide an unimaginable boost to morale.

"General Qiu," Zhu Di said, returning to the present.

"I am here," Qiu Fu bowed immediately.

"Zhu Zheng is a pillar of the nation—brave, loyal, and righteous. This should be proclaimed to the entire army."

"Issue my decree: announce Zhu Zheng’s achievements to all the troops to inspire their own courage in battle. I want Zhu Zheng to become the standard-bearer for our Beiping army," Zhu Di commanded, his voice filled with authority and foresight.

"As you command," Qiu Fu replied eagerly.

"Also," Zhu Di turned to Guo Zi, "your daughter and Zhu Zheng’s family are still in the city. Go personally on my behalf to comfort them. Bestow upon them a hundred taels of silver, and provide sufficient grain and cloth. This is my care for his family; since Zhu Zheng is fighting for me on the battlefield, I will not treat his kin poorly."

"As for his feat in slaying the enemy commander, I shall grant Zhu Zheng the hereditary title of County Baron as a reward."

"Your Highness," Guo Zi said with some hesitation, "the granting of titles is a prerogative of the imperial court."

Zhu Di did not care in the slightest. He sneered, "I have already rebelled; do you think I still care about such things?"

"Since we have rebelled, my Prince’s Mansion is the court. If we lose, we all die anyway. Using titles to motivate the soldiers is a great gain. Once I succeed, all these things will naturally be honored."

Zhu Di laughed, indifferent to the "imperial court." Having embarked on the path of rebellion, there was no turning back.

In the hall, Qiu Fu and Guo Zi—the heads of the military and civil officials of Beiping respectively—were both intelligent men and Zhu Di’s confidants. Since they were already in open rebellion, Zhu Di no longer felt the need to hide behind the pretense of "cleansing the court."

"I believe it is feasible," Qiu Fu agreed immediately. "Your Highness is wise."