It was winter and the weather was cold.
The world was covered in silver. The roads, mountains, rivers, and trees were all covered in a thick layer of cotton clothing.
Few people would come out in such weather, but at this time, the city was bustling with people. Countless people stood on the official road in the cold and looked into the distance.
Even though the cold north wind made their cheeks turn red, their bodies trembled, and they kept rubbing their hands and stomping their feet, they had no intention of leaving.
Today.
It was the day of the triumphant return of the Northern Expedition Army!
A few days ago, Zhu Yuanzhang had already issued a false edict, announcing to the world that Zhu Xiong had led the Northern Expedition Army to break through the capital of the Yuan Dynasty, expel the Hu Krupp, destroy the Yuan Dynasty, and unify the world.
The Han people of the Central Plains had been oppressed by the Yuan Court for over a hundred years!
During the reign of the Mengyuan barbarians, the Han people had the lowest status. They were no different from cattle and sheep. They had been oppressed for too long!
Now!
Zhu Rong had driven these barbarians who had oppressed and enslaved them out of the Central Plains. He was the hero of all the Han family!
To welcome the return of a hero, even if they were to freeze to death here, these people were willing!
Thirty miles away.
Zhu Yuanzhang's dragon carriage stood quietly on the official road. He did not sit in the carriage, but stood upright in the snow with his hands behind his back, staring into the distance.
At this moment, he was not only an emperor waiting for the triumphant return of the soldiers of the Northern Expedition, but also an old father waiting for his son to return safely.
"Your Majesty, have a cup of ginger tea to warm your body.”
Li Shan Chang rubbed his frozen palms and asked Zhu Yuanzhang.
"My son had a narrow escape in the Yuan Court's hinterland, surrounded by tigers and wolves. After that, he led the army to the northern expedition without stopping and experienced the harsh winter and scorching heat.”
"In comparison, what is this bit of suffering?”
"I'm just a father who's enjoying the fruits of his labor in Jinling. The only thing I can do now is to give him a grand welcome ceremony and let him enjoy the highest honor!”
Zhu Yuanzhang waved his hand to reject Li Shanzhang. His voice was filled with heartache, concern, and love for his son.
Two hours later, it was close to noon.
A huge flag with the word 'Ming' embroidered on it appeared in the eyes of Zhu Yuanzhang, the civil and military officials, and the commoners on the roadside. Following closely behind was a domineering flag with the word 'Zhu', and beside it were flags with the words' Xu','Tang', and' Chang', surrounding and protecting 'Zhu' in the middle.
"Imperial Father, they're here. Third Brother and the others are back!”
Zhu Biao pointed at the flag in the distance and shouted excitedly to his father.
"I'm back, I'm finally back!" Zhu Yuanzhang saw the banner fluttering in the snow, looked at the orderly army, and looked at Zhu Xi under the banner. His eyes turned red and his nose turned sour. He cried tears of joy.
Zhu Yuanzhang wiped away the tears that were about to flow out and quickly waved his arms at Zhu Rong.
"Son!"
The excited shouts reached Zhu Xiong's ears. He saw his father waving his arms at him in the heavy snow.
This place was at least 30 miles away from Jin Ling City. She never thought that her father would come all the way here to welcome her, especially in such cold weather.
At this moment, other than being touched, he was also touched!
" Father!!!"
Feeling touched, Zhu Rong waved his hand in response. He urged his horse to gallop forward, leaving a trail of seals in the snow as he rushed towards Zhu Yuanzhang.
When he arrived in front of Zhu Yuanzhang, Zhu Yuanzhang personally helped him off the horse and gave him a big bear hug.
"Good son!"
"He really made us proud!"
"You scared away the emperor of Dayuan, raised the reputation of my Han family, and shocked the glory of my Han family!”
"You are our Da Ming's hero! He's the hero of the Han family!"
Zhu Yuanzhang patted Zhu Rong's shoulder, feeling extremely gratified and happy. His voice was filled with pride!
"Hehe, this is what I should do as a descendant of Huang Ming.”
Zhu Rong was a little embarrassed by Zhu Yuanzhang's praise. He scratched his head and giggled. In front of his parents, he was not a decisive general, but a child who would not grow up.
"Third brother, congratulations on your triumphant return!"
"Now that the Yuan Court has been destroyed and the world has been unified, you are the number one hero of my Great Ming!”
Crown Prince Zhu Biao also walked up and gave Zhu Rong a big bear hug. He had a refined smile on his face. There was no jealousy or fear, only excitement and joy.
"Third Brother, Third Brother, you have already destroyed the Yuan Court. How can I fight in the future?”
"I'm still waiting for you to bring me to the battlefield to kill the Mengyuan barbarians!”
Zhu Di, who was beside Zhu Biao, pouted and complained.
"Hahaha! Don't worry, Fourth Brother, the war won't end!”
"Although Third Brother chased the Mengyuan barbarians out of the Central Plains, they were not exterminated. Instead, they fled to the grasslands.”
"After losing the Central Plains, they will definitely not be satisfied. In the future, they will definitely invade our Ming Empire and try to take back this land. The war between us and the Mengyuan Hu Krupp is far from over!”
Zhu Rong patted his head and said with a smile.
"Your third brother is right!"
"Although our Ming Empire has won the Northern Expedition, the Mengyuan Hu Krupp have not been destroyed. They are still eyeing the Central Plains covetously.”
"You must study and practice martial arts well. In the future, you will guard the frontier fortress and ensure that our Ming territory will not be invaded by these Hu Krupps!”
Zhu Yuanzhang looked at Zhu Xi with a gratified expression and turned to Zhu Di. He then looked at Zhu Xi and Zhu Xi, his eyes filled with hope and anticipation.
It was every father's hope to see their children become successful.
Zhu Yuanzhang didn't want them to become silkpants princes who just ate and waited for death. He hoped that they could shoulder the responsibility of the Ming Dynasty's princes and guard the Ming Dynasty's frontier fortress, forever keeping the Hu Krupp outside the Central Plains!
"Don't worry, Imperial Father!"
"In the future, your son will definitely practice martial arts diligently and study the art of war. He will imitate Wei Huo and lead our Ming Dynasty's soldiers to ride on the grasslands and seal the wolves!”
Zhu Di's eyes were filled with fighting spirit, and his voice was filled with determination.
At this time, Zhu Di was still young. He had Zhu Biao, the eldest brother of the crown prince, and Zhu Xi, the third brother who had made great contributions. He had no thoughts about the supreme throne at all. He only wanted to be a general, like the Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty's Qing Wei and Huo Qubing.
"Hahaha! My son is ambitious!"
When Zhu Yuanzhang heard Zhu Di's bold words, he couldn't help but laugh heartily, feeling deeply gratified in his heart.
"Father, let's go back!"
"The weather is so cold.”
Zhu Xiong looked at his face that was red from the cold and advised him with concern.
"Alright, alright, alright. Let's go back!"
"Your mother is probably waiting at home for you!”
Zhu Yuanzhang felt his son's concern and immediately beamed with joy. He quickly responded and pulled Zhu Rong's hand to chase the dragon away.
"Don't, Father, what are you doing?”
"Although I'm a prince, I can't sit in a dragon carriage.”
"Even if you don't mind, the ministers will probably put a pile of memorials on your desk tomorrow!”
Zhu Rong whispered to Zhu Yuanzhang.
This was not an ordinary carriage, but the emperor's dragon carriage. Even Crown Prince Zhu Biao had never sat on it before.
"What do you mean by overstepping? F * ck the rules. I'll let whoever I want to sit in my carriage. Stop talking nonsense and go up to chat with us about the northern expedition.”
Zhu Yuanzhang waved his hand and said domineeringly, pushing Zhu Rong onto the dragon carriage.
"This... Alright then."
Seeing his father's unquestionable attitude, Zhu Rong could only sit on the dragon carriage obediently. His heart was warm and touched.
He knew that Zhu Yuanzhang was giving him the greatest honor!
The dragon chariot was the emperor's carriage. To be able to sit in it and travel with the emperor was definitely a supreme honor!
Zhu Yuanzhang's actions caused a huge uproar, and the surrounding officials were shocked!
Dragon Carriage!
That was a dragon carriage!
Even the Crown Prince was not qualified to sit in the emperor's exclusive carriage!
Now.
But His Majesty brought His Highness the Third Prince with him. What did this mean? Could it be that he wanted to change the crown prince?？
The ministers looked at the slowly moving dragon carriage and then at Crown Prince Zhu Biao, their hearts slightly trembling.
In reality.
They were just overthinking things. Zhu Yuanzhang only wanted to give his son a supreme honor and had no intention of changing his heir. Zhu Biao had been made the heir when he was still the King of Wu, and his character, ability, and talent were all outstanding.
If he hadn't done something that angered the heavens and the people, Zhu Yuanzhang would never have replaced the eldest son with the younger one.
" Congratulations on your triumphant return, Third Prince!!!"
"Congratulations to Great Ming for unifying the world!”
" Congratulations on your triumphant return, Third Prince!!!"
"Congratulations to Great Ming for unifying the world!”
The emperor's dragon carriage slowly moved on the official road. Although the commoners beside him could not see Zhu Rong in the dragon carriage, they knew that he was in it. Their enthusiasm did not decrease. They shouted loudly to express their congratulations to Zhu Rong.
The people cheered as the hero returned!
This book comes from：m.funovel.com。