Chapter 4 Winning Over

  "Now that they've come out, why not let them try?"

  Suppressing the unusual thoughts in his heart, Zhu Ciwen smiled at Shi Chuan, the eunuch in charge of internal affairs: "Selecting talent doesn't necessarily require qualifications, what do you think, sir?"

  Ishikawa was one of the eunuchs in charge of the inner palace, around fifty years old, which is considered old for a middle-ranking official. Compared to his seniority, there were only a few people in the palace who outranked him.

  However, this person seems to be a remnant of Wei Zhongxian's party, so he doesn't take it seriously. He is not favored in front of the emperor and is only in charge of trivial matters. He spends his days running around the Wansui Mountain Shouhuang Temple area with these hundreds of little monkeys causing trouble, without any real benefits, at most deducting a few silver coins for salted vegetables... Such an eunuch, having offended young master, can't be good.

  It's okay, seeing that Zhu Ci was not in a bad mood, Shi Chuan hurriedly smiled and said: "Wei Yue is straightforward and rarely serves as an attendant, since the young master wants to see him, let him come up."

  He then hastily retreated and went to the tall man, saying in a low voice: "Be careful, young master is also the master, is the lord, if you serve badly, your family's life will not be guaranteed!"

  "It's just a matter of drawing the bow and shooting the arrow, it won't be difficult... " Wei Yue's expression was calm as he replied: "It's just that we haven't received our salary for half a year now. If Young Master is pleased later on, I'll have to ask you to take care of us again."

  "What nonsense is this?!" The one surnamed Shi also had a look of disdain. Beijing camp officers, eight or nine out of ten are those who know how to get along and flatter, in front of these eunuchs they're just like cats and dogs, however you tease them it's fine. Once they leave the capital and take office, they become tigers and wolves, that's their business, the masters can't control them.

  Those who follow Wei Yue in front of them, their martial arts are not bad, and their movements are all very good, but the kind of loneliness and arrogance deep down makes people feel uncomfortable at heart!

  However, this was not the time to refuse, so Ishikawa Gong still nodded and said, "No one will deduct your salary...". He looked at Wei Yue's face, then looked at the others, and swallowed the last two words. He coldly laughed and waved his hand, saying: "Hurry up and go, don't make me wait. After you're done, come find me."

  "Yes, thank you, sir!"

  Having obtained this promise, Wei Yue suddenly came back to life. He shook his body vigorously and the sickly tiger-like expression on his face instantly disappeared. When he looked again, he saw Wei Yue take big strides forward, pick up the iron bow, and after pulling it full as Zhu Ciyan had said, without even taking careful aim, an arrow flew out followed immediately by another. This kind of swift and effortless shooting made even Zhu Ciyan straighten his waist... Commander, really fucking cool!

  Zhu Cibin is not that kind of idle white-collar worker, but rather a martial arts instructor from a family of martial artists, who has dabbled in archery and taekwondo, and often goes to the mountains to hunt wild boars. He has experience shooting at fixed targets and live prey, and can be considered a skilled hand. However, compared to the person in front of him, he is far inferior!

  A tall and upright officer with the surname Wei, held a large and sturdy iron bow that was drawn to its fullest extent. The crowd only saw arrow after arrow flying out in succession, and when they looked at the target dozens of steps away, they saw that it was already densely packed with arrows, while one of them was still quivering on the target!

  "Alright, alright!"

  Zhu Ciwen started, and the officials of the Beijing garrison and the eunuchs in charge of internal affairs naturally also shouted loudly. It's one thing to humor the young master, but this Wei Yue's beautiful shooting technique is indeed breathtaking!

  The thunderous applause all around, Wei Yue's face remained unchanged, he walked silently to Zhu Ciyan and bowed, then turned to leave.

  "Wait a moment..." Zhu Ciwen wanted to win over this expert, and smiled as he called out to Wei Yue, asking: "You're Wei Yue, right? What's your position, which battalion are you from?"

  "Yes, I am Wei Yue, a selected officer of the five armies, garrison commander of the lower city, and instructor of the imperial guard. I was selected in the 16th year of Chongzhen."

  "So you're either from the Imperial Guard or the Feathered Forest?"

  "Your Highness, I am a hereditary officer of the Imperial Guard, with the rank of Centurion."

  Wei Yue was originally expressionless, but now that Zhu Ciwen asked him a question, his face showed a hint of surprise, however, it was quickly gone, and he returned to his half-dead appearance.

  "What's wrong with this guy, Shi Chuan? He looks so lazy and listless in front of me!" Zhu Ciwen thought it was strange, and when he looked behind Wei Yue, there were several burly men, the most eye-catching one being a dwarf, standing on the ground like an iron pillar.

  In the midst of Jingying, there are still some usable talents after all.

  Zhu Ci's heart was burning with a fierce passion, no matter what, he must capture the soldiers in front of him!

  "Li Jiye!"

  "What orders does Master have for me?"

  "Is the precious sword you were told to wield being used effectively?"

  "Alright, alright, I've had enough."

  "Get it!"

  Li Jiye had already vaguely guessed what Zhu Ciwen was going to do and couldn't help but feel a little hesitant.

  "Hurry up." Zhu Ciyan smiled and kicked a foot, saying: "Whatever you call it, hurry up, can't have another time, otherwise, I won't forgive you."

  Although it was said in jest, there was a tone of unquestionable authority in his words. Li Jiye's heart skipped a beat as he hastily bowed and replied: "Just now I was thinking, did I bring the knife with me... I'll go get it right away."

  Having said that, he bowed again and hurriedly went to fetch his sword.

  Ishikawa Tōta watched from the side, each person's expression was stern and dignified, and before he knew it, they had all bowed their heads slightly again.

  "Good sword, good sword!"

  Li Jiye took out the knife and Zhu Ciwen held it in his hand, also couldn't help but praise it repeatedly.

  This knife was made by Zhu Ci Huan and others at the Arsenal Bureau.

  The crown prince wants to use a knife, and the people below are all strange.

  There are many precious swords in the palace that have been unused for a long time. Chongzhen himself often used a dragon spring sword, which was passed down from Emperor Yongle.

  But who the hell knows, the crown prince thinks that in the future, when chopping people on horseback, a knife is better than a sword.

  After all, it was an instrument for the Crown Prince, so Zhu Ciyan drew a picture and the people below quickly made one according to the picture. It was somewhat heavier than the Great Ming dynasty's Goose Feather Knife or Willow Leaf Knife, but the blade was straight as a pen, with a sharp edge that had no equal. The entire knife was shorter than an ordinary long knife by about a third... This was naturally Zhu Ciyan's deliberate arrangement, so that when it was inconvenient, he could hide the knife in his large sleeves and not expose it.

  At this moment, he drew out the knife, but saw a crescent-shaped clear spring in his hand, with cold and stern light flowing on the knife... It's indeed a masterpiece crafted by the imperial craftsmen, and Zhu Ciyan is also an expert, knowing that this is a rare divine weapon.

  Not only that, but the scabbard was also inlaid with many precious stones. It's likely that the people at the Ministry of War had the scabbard sent to the Ministry of Silverwork for further processing in order to flatter the prince.

  The current days of the Great Ming are tight, and the imperial family doesn't have much surplus grain. However, there are still three catties of nails on the broken ship, which is enough to make a good sword for the crown prince.

  "Wei Yue, come, come closer!"

  When talking to Wu Fu, Zhu Ci Yun also deliberately put on a very casual and straightforward attitude.

  Wei Yue hesitated, and upon seeing his hesitation, Zhu Ciyan stood up, holding a treasured sword, and took large strides to stand in front of Wei Yue.

  "What a fine and robust fellow!"

  As he approached, he couldn't help but praise him again, and then, with a smile, he said: "The precious sword is given to the hero, this sword is yours!"