Daming: Brother, there is no future for monks, let's rebel

"But the King of Yan..." Gu Qingping paused deliberately, waiting for everyone's attention to focus, "needs to go to Nanjing as a hostage."

Zhu Di suddenly stood up and said, "I am of royal blood, how can I be a hostage!"

"Uncle." Gu Qingping suddenly turned to Zhu Han and said, "To cultivate one's moral character, one should use thunderous means."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Han suddenly drew out his sword. The sword flashed across the hall like a silver dragon and cut off the jade belt on Zhu Di's bun.

Zhu Di's face turned pale and veins bulged on his forehead, but he didn't dare to say anything.

Gu Qingping looked at Zhu Han, a trace of gratitude flashed in her eyes. This Prince Jing always stabilized the situation with thundering means at critical moments.

She walked to Zhu Di with light lotus steps and bowed slightly: "Your Highness, Prince of Yan, I am willing to go to Mobei to negotiate peace with the Oirat. If Your Highness can sincerely repent, I will do my best to find a glimmer of hope for Your Highness."

Zhu Di looked at Gu Qingping, a complicated look flashed in his eyes. This Crown Princess was not only extremely intelligent, but also had extraordinary courage and bearing. He lowered his head and said in a low voice: "Thank you, Crown Princess."

Zhu Yuanzhang looked at the people below the stairs, feeling mixed emotions. He sighed, waved his hand and said, "Forget it, I'll do as the Crown Princess says. Zhu Di, you will go to Nanjing as a hostage. If you have any other intentions, I will not let you off easily."

Zhu Di knelt on the ground, his voice trembling: "Your son obeys your order."

Gu Qingping turned and looked at Zhu Biao, her eyes full of tenderness: "Your Highness, I will go to Mobei now, and I will not let you down."

Zhu Biao stepped forward and held her hand tightly: "Qingping, you must be careful. If things go wrong, come back quickly."

Gu Qingping smiled slightly and nodded in agreement. She turned to Zhu Han and said, "Uncle, I'll need your escort on this trip."

Zhu Han cupped his hands and said, "Don't worry, Crown Princess. I will definitely protect you."

Zhu Yuanzhang looked at Gu Qingping with admiration in his eyes: "The Crown Princess's trip concerns the safety of our Ming Dynasty. You must be careful and cautious."

Gu Qingping bowed and saluted: "I obey your order."

The next morning, outside Jinling City, a team of elite soldiers were ready to go. Gu Qingping was wearing the gorgeous costumes of a crown princess, a nine-Di crown on her head, and the cinnabar mole between her eyebrows glowed softly in the morning light.

She looked towards the distant Mobei direction, feeling both anticipation and anxiety.

Zhu Han was wearing a black armor, and the sword on his waist was shining coldly. He walked up to Gu Qingping and said, "Crown Princess, this journey is long, please take care."

Gu Qingping smiled slightly and nodded in agreement: "Don't worry, uncle, I know what to do."

Zhu Biao stepped forward and held Gu Qingping's hand tightly: "Qingping, you must be careful. If things don't go well, come back quickly. I'll wait for you in Jinling."

Gu Qingping looked at the affection in Zhu Biao's eyes, and a warm current surged in her heart. She held his hand tightly and said, "Don't worry, Your Highness. I will return safely."

Gu Qingping sat in the gorgeous carriage, looking out the window at the Jinling City getting farther and farther away, feeling both reluctant and determined.

Along the way, Gu Qingping and Zhu Han walked side by side. Although Zhu Han didn't talk much, he always gave Gu Qingping the most solid support at the critical moment.

He often stood alone outside the camp at night, alert to any movement around him.

Gu Qingping looked at Zhu Han's lonely and determined back, and a feeling of admiration welled up in her heart.

She asked softly, "Uncle, why are you always so silent?"

Zhu Han turned around, looked into Gu Qingping's clear eyes, and smiled slightly: "Crown Princess, I grew up in the northern part of the Great Wall since I was young, and I am used to loneliness and silence. On the battlefield, silence is often more powerful than words."

The team finally arrived in Mobei. Gu Qingping looked at the vast grassland with both shock and awe in her heart.

Batur had been waiting outside the camp for a long time. He looked at Gu Qingping's gorgeous clothes and noble temperament, and a trace of greed flashed in his eyes.

But when he saw Zhu Han's stern face and the sword at his waist, he couldn't help but feel a chill in his heart.

Gu Qingping got off the carriage and bowed slightly to Batur: "Third Prince, I, your daughter-in-law Gu, have come to negotiate peace with the Oirat."

Batur laughed loudly, and said in a rough voice: "The Crown Princess is indeed worthy of her reputation. Not only is she extremely beautiful, but she also has extraordinary courage and bearing. Please come in. I have prepared a banquet in the camp to welcome the Crown Princess."

Gu Qingping smiled and nodded in agreement. She followed Batur into the camp, but remained alert at all times.

In the tent, the banquet was already set. Batur raised his glass to Gu Qingping and said, "Crown Princess, I offer you a toast. I wish that the Ming Dynasty and the Oirat will forever be friends."

Gu Qingping raised her glass in response: "You are too polite, Third Prince. This trip is for the sake of the peaceful coexistence between Ming Dynasty and Wala. I hope that our two countries can work together to create brilliance together."

After three rounds of drinks, Batur suddenly changed the subject: "Crown Princess, there is something I don't understand. Why are you willing to come and negotiate with me? Aren't you afraid that I will hold you hostage?"

Gu Qingping smiled slightly, with a hint of determination in her eyes: "Third Prince, you are worrying too much. This trip is for the safety of the Ming Dynasty and the well-being of the people. If I can facilitate peace talks between the two countries, it will be my greatest honor. As for the hostage issue, I believe that the Third Prince is a real man and will never do such a despicable thing."

Batur laughed when he heard this: "The Crown Princess is indeed very courageous. I admire you. However, there is one thing I don't understand. Why are you willing to exchange the three states of Mo Nan for my peace talks?"

Gu Qingping sighed softly, with a hint of helplessness in her eyes: "Third Prince, you don't know. Although the three states south of the desert are the territory of our Ming Dynasty, they have suffered from wars in recent years. The people are displaced and suffering. I am willing to exchange the three states for the peaceful coexistence of the two countries. Let the people live and work in peace and avoid the suffering of war."

Batur heard this and a trace of admiration flashed in his eyes: "The Crown Princess is indeed very righteous. I admire you. However, I still have one favor to ask of you."

Gu Qingping frowned slightly: "Third Prince, please speak."

Batur suddenly stood up, walked to Gu Qingping, and knelt on one knee: "Crown Princess, I am willing to exchange all the soldiers of Wala for you."

Gu Qingping was shocked when she heard this. She didn't expect that Batur would make such a request. She quickly stood up and helped Batur up: "What do you mean, Third Prince? I am the Crown Princess of the Ming Dynasty. How can I marry a prince of the Oirat?"

Batur laughed and said, "Don't panic, Princess. I was just joking. However, I have admired you for a long time. If you are willing to stay in Wala, I am willing to treat you as my queen."

Gu Qingping was furious when she heard this. She had never expected that Batur would be so rude. She said coldly, "Third Prince, please respect yourself. I am the Crown Princess of the Ming Dynasty. How could I do something so unworthy of a woman?"

Upon seeing this, Batur quickly stood up and said with a smile, "Princess, please don't be angry. I was just joking. Please don't take it to heart."

Gu Qingping snorted coldly and turned away. Returning to the tent, Gu Qingping felt very upset.

Zhu Han looked at Gu Qingping's departing figure, thinking to himself. The next morning, Zhu Han got up early. He walked to a campfire and sat down. A soldier brought him a bowl of hot goat milk and handed it to him: "Your Majesty, drink some goat milk to warm yourself up."

Zhu Han took the goat milk and smiled: "Thank you, brother." He picked up the bowl and drank the goat milk in big gulps. The warmth of the goat milk flowed down his throat into his stomach, making him feel comfortable.

After drinking the goat milk, Zhu Han stood up and said to the soldier, "Go and call Batur. I have something to say to him."

The soldier took the order and left. After a while, Batur strode in. He looked at Zhu Han, with a hint of doubt in his eyes: "Prince Jing, what do you want to talk to me about?"

Zhu Han smiled and pointed to the bonfire nearby: "Third Prince, come and sit down. I have something to tell you."

Batur sat down and looked at Zhu Han: "Prince Jing, please speak."

Zhu Han pondered for a moment and said slowly: "Third Prince, I know you have some admiration for the Crown Princess. But she is the Crown Princess of my Ming Dynasty. How can she marry you, a prince of the Oirat?"

Batur laughed when he heard this: "Prince Jing, you are worrying too much. I was just joking. My admiration for the Crown Princess is just my appreciation for her talent and courage."

Zhu Han nodded: "That's great. What does the Third Prince think of the peace talks?"

Batur pondered for a moment and said slowly: "I have no objection to the peace talks. But I also have a condition."

Zhu Han frowned slightly: "What conditions?"

Batur looked at Zhu Han, a sly look flashing in his eyes: "I want you, the Ming Dynasty, to cede the three states south of the desert to the Oirat."

Zhu Han was furious when he heard this, but he knew that he couldn't act impulsively at this moment.

He took a deep breath, suppressed the anger in his heart, and said slowly: "Third Prince, the three states south of the desert are the territory of our Ming Dynasty. How can we cede them so easily?"

Batur sneered and said, "Prince Jing, if you don't agree to my terms, then there will be no peace talks."

He smiled slightly and said slowly: "Third Prince, the matter of ceding territory is no small matter. I need to discuss it with the Crown Princess before making a decision."

Batur nodded and said, "Okay, then I will give Prince Jing three days. If you don't give me a reply within three days, I will no longer negotiate with you."

Zhu Han bowed and said, "Thank you for your leniency, Third Prince. I will give you a reply as soon as possible."

Batur got up and left. Zhu Han looked at his back and felt worried.

Zhu Han returned to the tent and immediately summoned Gu Qingping. He told Gu Qingping about Batur's conditions, and Gu Qingping frowned upon hearing this.

"Uncle, Batur is going too far. The three states south of the desert are the territory of our Ming Dynasty. How can we cede them so easily?" Gu Qingping said angrily.

Zhu Han smiled slightly and said slowly: "Princess, please don't be angry. I know that Batur is deliberately making things difficult for us. But at this moment, we can't confront him head-on. We must find a way to stabilize him and buy more time."

Gu Qingping nodded: "Uncle Emperor is right. So what is your plan?"

Zhu Han pondered for a moment and said slowly: "I think we can agree to his conditions first, but he must release the captured Ming soldiers and withdraw his troops a hundred miles."

Gu Qingping heard this, and a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes: "Uncle, this... is this possible?"

Zhu Han smiled slightly: "Don't worry, Princess, I know what to do. Although Batur is cunning, he also knows that if he really goes to war with our Ming Dynasty, he will not gain any benefits."

Gu Qingping nodded: "Okay, then let's do as the uncle says. I will go and discuss it with Batur now."

Gu Qingping walked out of the tent, and soon came in with Batur. Batur looked at Zhu Han, with a hint of doubt in his eyes: "Prince Jing, what have you considered?"

Zhu Han smiled slightly and said slowly: "Third Prince, I am willing to agree to your conditions and cede the three states south of the desert to the Oirat. But I also have a request."

Batur heard this and a hint of joy flashed in his eyes: "Prince Jing, please speak."

Zhu Han said in a deep voice: "This king requires the Third Prince to release the captured Ming soldiers first and withdraw the troops a hundred miles."

Batur frowned upon hearing this and said, "Prince Jing, your request is too much, isn't it? If I really withdraw my troops a hundred miles, then wouldn't you Ming Dynasty take the opportunity to counterattack?"

Zhu Han smiled slightly: "Third Prince, you are worrying too much. I just hope that before I cede the territory, I can first save the people from the suffering of war. After the people live and work in peace and contentment, I will naturally fulfill my promise."

Batur pondered for a moment and said slowly: "Okay, I will agree to your request. But I also want you to promise that after I release the soldiers and withdraw a hundred miles, you must immediately cede the three states south of the desert to the Oirat."

Zhu Han clasped his hands and said, "Don't worry, Third Prince, I will stick to my words."

Batur nodded: "Okay, then I will trust you this time."

Gu Qingping looked at Batur's departing back, and a wave of worry surged in her heart: "Uncle, will Batur really keep his promise?"

Zhu Han smiled slightly: "Don't worry, Princess, I have my own way to make him keep his promise."

Zhu Han watched Batur leave, but he was not completely relaxed. The Oirat people were cunning and fickle, and although Batur's words were full of confidence, his actual actions might not be so.

He turned to Gu Qingping and said, "Crown Princess, Batur is a man who cannot be trusted easily. We need to be fully prepared."

Gu Qingping nodded slightly, with a trace of worry in her eyes: "Uncle Huang is right, so how should we deal with it next?"

Zhu Han pondered for a moment and said slowly: "We should keep our troops in place and wait and see what happens. At the same time, we should strengthen the defense of the camp to prevent sudden attacks by the Wala people. In addition, we need to send people to closely monitor Batur's movements. If we find any unusual movements from him, we should take immediate action."

Just as they were preparing intensively, Batur suddenly sent a message, saying that he had released the captured Ming soldiers as agreed and retreated a hundred miles.

Zhu Han was suspicious when he heard this. Batur's move might just be a delaying tactic, but he still decided to send someone to check it out first.

Not long after, scouts brought news that Batur had indeed released the Ming soldiers and retreated a hundred miles.

Zhu Han was not completely relieved when he heard the news. He turned to Gu Qingping and said, "Crown Princess, Batur's move may just be a delaying tactic. We cannot take it lightly." (End of this chapter)