Daming: Grandpa Emperor, please get up and sit on my throne!

Chapter 1444

"Therefore, this humble monk must go to Yingtian Prefecture."

The monk Daoyan's voice was filled with absolute certainty, and even a hint of anticipation.

The other party's answer seemed to be within Zhu Di's expectations. Zhu Di shook his head helplessly: "Would you risk your life just to see it once?"

"Although Father Emperor said that Zhu Yunwen might not have intended to kill me, he has been away from Yingtian Prefecture for almost a year now. Who knows if what he said will work? Going to Yingtian Prefecture, whether I live or die is uncertain." Zhu Di felt that Daoyan was just a monk and there was no need for him to lose his life for this, so he wanted to say a few more words of advice.

Monk Daoyan chuckled lightly: "Hehe, this glance is more important than life itself."

Historically, the "mad monk" did indeed think differently from ordinary people. Or rather, if he hadn't been a bit mad, he wouldn't have instigated Zhu Di to rebel so early on.

"That's enough." Zhu Di could only give up and stopped trying to persuade him. He smiled wryly and said, "You strange monk, you were strange eleven years ago, and you're still the same now."

"Your Highness, it's your turn to make a move." The monk Daoyan gestured towards the chessboard as if he were just having a casual chat, reminding Zhu Di to make his move.

But when Zhu Di took a chess piece out of the chess box...

A servant rushed in: "Your Highness, Lord Qiu Fu, the commander of the Yanshan Central Guard, has come to see you again. May I ask who Your Highness is...?"

Indeed, he said "again"—before this, Qiu Fu had already visited Zhu Di many times, but...

"Go and tell him I will not see him." Zhu Di, just like every time before, once again refused Qiu Fu's request to see him, his gaze fixed on the chessboard, carefully examining and pondering it. He didn't even raise his head when he spoke.

"Yes... Your Highness." The servant could only reply and retreated sheepishly.

"How many times has this happened? They also want to help Your Highness out of this predicament, but Your Highness really won't even see them?" Monk Daoyan stroked his beard and said.

Zhu Di placed a piece on the board with a "thud," and sighed with mixed feelings, "That's why I can't see them. They are warriors with only loyalty in their hearts. They won't listen to reason with me. Seeing them will only cause more trouble, so it's better not to see them."

The monk Daoyan said, "It must be difficult for them."

……

In Beiping City, at the residence of Qiu Fu, a thousand-household commander of the Yanshan Central Guard.

"Old Qiu, how's it going?"

When Qiu Fu returned from his trip to the Prince of Yan's residence, the people who had been waiting for him there immediately surrounded him, eager to inquire about the outcome of his visit.

Qiu Fu could only sigh: "The prince still refuses to see me..."

"We can't even get a glimpse of the prince, let alone persuade him to spare us for the time being. We, the Three Guards of Yanshan, have all the skills but no way to achieve anything!"

Indeed, the people waiting for news at his residence were, like Qiu Fu, several generals belonging to the Yanshan Three Guards—Zhang Yu, commander of the Yanshan Left Guard; Tan Yuan, commander of the Yanshan Right Guard; Zhu Liang, deputy commander of the Yanshan Left Guard; and Wang Zhen, deputy commander of the Yanshan Central Guard…

After learning the whole story of what happened half a month ago, even the most reckless among them knew that something terrible had happened in Beiping Prefecture, and that their master, His Highness Prince Yan, was in grave danger.

The Three Guards of Yanshan were Zhu Di's core personal troops, trained during the eleven years Zhu Di guarded Beiping, and naturally had to consider Zhu Di's interests.

So... starting half a month ago, they wanted Zhu Di to make plans and prepare an escape route as soon as possible—after all, that little emperor in Yingtian Prefecture didn't care about family ties, was ruthless, and didn't care about the rules of the "Imperial Ancestral Instructions of the Ming Dynasty" at all; he could even kill a prince!

They were unwilling to see their master perish like this, no matter what.

Unfortunately……

For the past two weeks.

They requested an audience time and time again, but were repeatedly refused; Zhu Di wouldn't even see them.

This made Qiu Fu, Zhang Yu, Tan Yuan, and other generals of the Yanshan Three Guards extremely anxious.

Hearing Qiu Fu give the same answer again, Zhang Yu said anxiously, "It's been half a month already. A round trip to Yingtian Prefecture is enough time. Who knows, the imperial decree from Yingtian Prefecture might be coming today or tomorrow! Is Your Highness really going to just surrender and wait to die at the hands of the young emperor?"

"Are we really going to just stand by and watch His Highness be doomed?"

"Sigh..." Mentioning this matter, Tan Yuan, Zhu Liang and the others sighed with a look of melancholy, their brows furrowed and they could only feel helpless.

Since the young emperor Zhu Yunwen ascended the throne, they had heard quite a few bloody incidents in Yingtian Prefecture—major corruption cases, the fate of the Princes of Qin and Jin who rebelled… skinned alive, heads rolling—they were no pushovers!

In their eyes, Yingtianfu was a place from which one would never return.

However, Zhu Di refused to see them, which led to a stalemate at Qiu Fu's residence. The group of people could only remain silent, heavy-hearted and dejected.

Just when things were at a stalemate.

A servant entered Qiu Fu's residence, glanced at Qiu Fu and his companions with a glint in his eye, and said with a serious expression, "Master, gentlemen, news has been quietly sent to your residence from the garrison of Beiping Prefecture. The situation... is not good."

"The garrison of Beiping Prefecture?" Qiu Fu asked, raising his eyes.

"what happened?"

"Say it!"

Zhang Yu, Tan Yuan, Zhu Liang, and others standing nearby felt a jolt in their hearts and urged him on.

The servant replied with a serious expression, "There's a transfer order from Yingtian Prefecture, which has mobilized troops from several garrison posts in Beiping Prefecture!"

The Ming Dynasty boasted a million-strong army, which consisted of the garrison troops stationed in the capital and the Zhili region, as well as the garrisons of various provincial administrations.

The personal guards of the princes, such as the Three Guards of Yanshan, who were under Zhu Di's command, could be mobilized by Zhu Di and the other princes themselves.

However, garrison troops belonging to the imperial guards could only be mobilized with an imperial order.

However, Zhu Di had been based in Beiping Prefecture for more than ten years and often led troops to fight against the remnants of the former Yuan Dynasty in the Mongolian Plateau on the orders of the court. During the war, whether they were princes' personal soldiers or court troops, they were all comrades with deep feelings. It was not difficult for Qiu Fu to find out the movements of these garrisons.

And when the servant revealed the news...

Qiu Fu, Zhang Yu, Tan Yuan, Zhu Liang, and others immediately changed their expressions and slammed their fists on the table, exclaiming, "What?! The transfer order has already reached Beiping Prefecture?!"

"Several garrison troops have been transferred out, and that's only what we know. There may be more than just the garrisons we have inside information about!"

"There is no major war going on in the north right now, so what else could be the purpose of mobilizing troops stationed in the garrisons?"

"It can only be that the Yingtian Prefecture wants to deal with the Prince!"

"..."