Chapter 5 Dorgon (I)

  Xiong Tingbi walked into the tent, saw Zhu Yinglong already lying down, but still with his eyes open. He paused for a moment, then went forward and said: "Your Highness, Li Niang...". In the end, he didn't finish what he was going to say, let out a sigh and lay down opposite Zhu Yinglong.

  Actually, Zhu Yinglong was afraid of Xiong Tingxiao asking him about Xiong Hu, and didn't know how to answer. Now that the other party had stopped on their own, Zhu Yinglong let out a big sigh of relief in his heart. The longer he acted as the king, the more he could feel the pressure on himself. Which man wouldn't want to be surrounded by beauties? Especially someone like Xiong Hu, who was such a good girl. As the saying goes, once you enter the palace gates, it's like entering the deep sea. How much more so for the imperial family's gate? Could he really give them happiness? Zhu Yinglong was perplexed. If only there were monogamy, that would be great! At least then he wouldn't have to worry about so many troubles in the future. But sometimes men are just worthless, eating from the bowl while eyeing the pot, and also glancing at what hasn't been done yet. How many parents out there want their daughters to walk through those palace gates? From Xiong Tingxiao's expression, Zhu Yinglong saw the helplessness of being a parent - hoping that their daughter could find her own happiness, while also not wanting their daughter to fall into the deep abyss of the palace. It was truly pitiful, the hearts of parents everywhere!

  From Xiong Tingbi's constant tossing and turning, it was clear that he couldn't sleep due to his worries about Xiong Hu. Zhu Yinglong also couldn't sleep. His ideals, his goals - the only way he could possibly succeed was by reaching that position. But if he gave up, he wouldn't be able to do it. However, if he did reach that position, perhaps he would become isolated and alone. Maybe even the woman who deeply loved him would change and no longer be with him because of love, but for other reasons. He didn't want this kind of ending. Happiness and ideals - must they always be mutually exclusive? Is it really true that gaining something means losing something else? Is this some kind of conservation law?

  "Your Majesty, Father, why are your eyes both red? Didn't you sleep well last night?" Xiong Hu came to ask after their well-being early in the morning.

  "No, just now the wind and sand blew into my eyes!" Zhu Yinglong and Xiong Tingyi said in unison.

  Three people gave the same answer and used it as an excuse to speak out, for a moment, all three of them were embarrassed, looking at each other, not knowing what to say next.

  "Your Highness, it's time for us to set off!" Shen Xi suddenly appeared and said.

  "Right, we should set off!" Zhu Yinglong was the most nervous one, and from this beginning, he went down.

  No matter which ethnic group, the common people are the most simple and kind-hearted. Zhu Yinglong brought them precious salt, and they treated Zhu Yinglong and his party with their most enthusiastic mutton and cheese. In the eyes of the Ming court, Zhu Yinglong and others may be fugitives who have committed heinous crimes, but in the eyes of these simple Mongolian people, they are the most respected guests. Not only did they bring salt and tea bricks, but they also purchased fur and woolen blankets from them. Zhu Yinglong also took the opportunity to instill the concept of national equality in Xiong Tingyi and others, telling them that killing and war can only deepen hatred, and sometimes even allow people with ambitions to take advantage of it, making it an eternal vendetta. Everyone lives under the same blue sky, why can't they live in peace and happiness? It's because of human ambition and desire, desire breeds more desire, and ambition breeds greater ambition, which is why war is always inevitable.

  So this road became a big debate, and it didn't feel like time was passing quickly along the way.

  "Since human desires cannot be avoided, won't we have to keep fighting from now on?" Xiong Tingyi was very interested in Zhu Yinglong's point of view.

  "War is a means, actually it's just a way to vent one's desires. In fact, we can control our desires." Zhu Yinglong said with a faint smile on horseback.

  "Can you control it?" Xiong Hu also joined the discussion, looking at Zhu Yinglong in surprise and asking with a face full of disbelief.

  "Of course, as long as we let every individual clearly recognize themselves, they will naturally produce a kind of self-control, controlling their desires and rationally thinking about everything they do. This way, there won't be great harm, and it can even bring benefits to the people." Zhu Yinglong said all this, actually wanting to tell them that the policy of fooling the people is not acceptable. Only by letting the common people learn knowledge, recognize themselves, form their own outlook on life and values, will society constantly progress and the country become stronger. In short, it's just two words: "education".

  "Your Highness, although what you said makes some sense, I think it's not easy to implement and even if we don't consider the numerous difficulties, I'm afraid this is not something that can be done in a year or two." Xiong Tingyi said after a moment of contemplation.

  Zhu Yinglong nodded and asked, "This Ben Wang doesn't know, the sage said to educate the people, but what about it? In these thousands of years, those who have received the sage's education, I, Ben Wang, see less than ten people. General Xiong, do you know the reason?"

  Xiong Tingbi thought for a long time and said with some embarrassment: "I don't know."

  Zhu Yinglong smiled slightly and said, "General Xiong doesn't know this, which isn't surprising, because your position makes you unable to see everything behind the scenes. In fact, it's hard to understand when I say it out loud, because those who rule the world don't want their people to become intelligent and turn against them. Doesn't General Xiong know that our great Ming dynasty has a very peculiar ancestral rule?"

  Xiong Tingbi hadn't even responded when Xiong Hu's eyes lit up and he said, "Your Highness is referring to the fact that among the princes, only the Crown Prince can receive education in the palace, right?"

  Xiong Tingbi naturally understood the meaning of Zhu Yinglong's words, but he thought further than Xiong Hu and expressed a different opinion: "What the king said is indeed correct, but our ancestors did so also for the sake of national stability and preventing fratricidal strife."

  Zhu Yinglong remained silent, knowing that every rule has its pros and cons. What Xiong Tingbi said was not wrong either - this rule was established by Cheng Zu to prevent the struggle for the throne and fratricide. However, it also deprived others of their right to education. Zhu Yinglong felt uneasy whenever he thought about it. If he didn't have an older brother looking out for him, he probably wouldn't even be able to study. But what could be done? "Mì zhào lì chǔ" was a good solution, but not the best one. Never mind, thinking about this now is getting ahead of ourselves. Let's focus on heading to Ningyuan City first."

  Xiong Tingbi actually knew Zhu Yinglong's ambition, and now he has discovered that Zhu Yinglong's ambition is far from simply ascending to the throne. What he wants to achieve far exceeds his own imagination, but for now, it's just scattered words, partly to test his own thoughts and others', and partly to seek suggestions from them. He was increasingly puzzled by the young king on horseback.

  After that night, Xiong Hu decided to bury her heart thoroughly because she made a decision that she would not marry anyone in this life. From the answer she got when she plucked up the courage to ask that question, which was indeed an absent-minded response from him, she felt a painful feeling in her heart and realized that she actually liked this unique and powerful young master Wang. Emotions are really strange, from that sentence "I want you!" she was destined to be captivated by his overbearing and ambiguous words! This word "love" is more terrifying than war itself!

  "Your Highness, Dragon Prince, five miles ahead, we've discovered a cavalry of the Later Jin!" To be on the safe side, Zhu Yinglong still dispatched four riders to scout ahead and behind.

  "This is the territory of the Mongols, how can the cavalry of the Later Jin appear here?" Xiong Tingbi rode forward and said.

  "Your Highness, shall we avoid it?" Lu Haotian suggested.

  "I don't think it's necessary, you take a look!" Everyone followed Zhu Yinglong's hand and looked forward, dust flying everywhere. The horsemen were already in sight, where could they hide?

  "It's coming so fast, it seems to be the Later Jin's elite cavalry!" Someone in the team had been to Liaodong and recognized at a glance that the ones rushing forward were the elite cavalry of the Later Jin.

  Xiong Tingbi nodded and said: "Not bad, it's the elite cavalry of the Zhongyang Yellow Banner in the Eight Banners Army of the Later Jin!"

  "Who is Azige?" Zhu Yinglong exclaimed, having been in this time and space for so long, what he was most concerned about was the intelligence of Houjin, although more confidential things were unknown, but the most basic things he already knew very well.

  "Your Highness, what shall we do?" Shen Xi asked anxiously. As the only pure merchant here, he had no ability to protect himself and was naturally a bit afraid.

  "Pass the order, let's go and welcome them!" Zhu Yinglong calmly gave the command. The other side had only more than 50 people, and he also had more than 50 people. With equal forces, and with fire-tube short guns, even if they fought, it was unlikely that they would lose. What was there to fear?