Zhu Di did not linger long at the Xu residence. Xu Huizu's cold reception drove him to leave in haste without even staying for a meal.
This left Xu Zengshou rather displeased with Xu Huizu.
After Zhu Di left, Xu Zengshou returned to the room and confronted Xu Huizu with anger in his voice. "Elder brother, our brother-in-law is family. Couldn't you have given him a proper welcome?"
Xu Huizu looked coldly at Xu Zengshou and said, "Remember this: you are not to grow too close to the Prince of Yan!"
"Why? Are we not even allowed to visit our own relatives anymore?"
Xu Zengshou demanded indignantly.
Xu Huizu shook his head and warned him sternly, "You know perfectly well that he stood without bowing at court today. Do you think he would have bowed if His Majesty hadn't pressured him? Do you think he would have bowed if His Majesty hadn't rearranged the defenses of Beiping Prefecture? Remember this: his ambition could plunge the Xu family into eternal ruin!"
Seeing Xu Huizu grow angrier with every word, Xu Zengshou quickly lowered his head and listened to the reprimand before saying, "You're right, elder brother. I'll follow all your arrangements."
Xu Huizu knew Xu Zengshou had always been close to Zhu Di. Seeing that his words had sunk in, he said no more.
By now, Xu Huizu had little energy left to manage the Xu family. The New Recruit Policy was moving forward step by step, and this was his foremost undertaking in securing his place at court and winning Zhu Yunwen's approval!
As long as the new military policy was fully implemented, Xu Huizu believed that not only Zhu Di, but even the Nine Frontier Kings joining forces would be no match for the Capital Garrison!
From ancient times through the Ming, men had enlisted only to collect their pay and eat the emperor's grain. In other words, they had done it merely to survive.
But things were different now!
These soldiers would possess unshakable conviction, a lofty faith in shielding and defending Great Ming.
They were the strongest soldiers in Zhu Yunwen's hands. They would burn themselves away for the empire's future, even if it meant becoming mere bricks and tiles!
The six comparisons in The Art of War-"swift as the wind, orderly as the forest, raiding like fire, immovable as a mountain, inscrutable as shadow, striking like thunder"-merely emphasized soldiers' speed, courage, loyalty, and uniformity. They had never made the soldiers' thinking a central concern.
Zhu Yunwen had creatively added ideological development and proposed a series of novel recruit-training methods unlike anything seen before. Astonished, Xu Huizu had gathered some soldiers to try them out. Every man ended up drenched in sweat, showing that although the exercises were simple, they were exceptionally effective at strengthening the body.
Not only that, Zhu Yunwen had also ordered improvements to the Capital Garrison's food and established a Capital Garrison Family Affairs Office, dedicated to managing matters concerning the soldiers' families.
If soldiers or their family members fell seriously ill, the emperor would cover half their medical expenses.
If a soldier's family members were beaten by a landlord, their land was seized, or they became embroiled in a lawsuit, there was no need to panic. They could go straight to the Capital Garrison Family Affairs Office, which would intervene and follow up on the matter.
If the Capital Garrison Family Affairs Office could not resolve it, the matter would be reported to the Five Army Commandery.
If even the Five Army Commandery could not resolve it, a memorial could still be submitted to the emperor.
In short, the soldiers belonged to the emperor and to Great Ming. Their families deserved to share in their good fortune and glory.
Even if a soldier died on the battlefield one day, the empire would provide generous compensation. In addition to a one-time payment of twenty taels of silver or twenty shi of rice, it would provide continuing support for ten years, giving the family five taels of silver or five shi of rice each year.
Such a system naturally met with resistance from the Revenue Ministry. After all, under the previous system, a soldier's death required only a one-time payment of thirty-six taels of silver or thirty-six shi of rice, with subsequent expenditures so small they could practically be ignored.
No one knew what method the emperor had used, but he had actually persuaded Huang Zicheng and the others.
Now, nearly every soldier in the Capital Garrison was eager to lay down his life for Zhu Yunwen. If Zhu Di failed to see what was before him and truly harbored disloyal intentions, his end would be utterly miserable.
Precisely because Xu Huizu understood the power of the New Recruit Policy, he worried all the more about Zhu Di. Treating him coldly was not merely a warning to Zhu Di, but also a display of loyalty to Zhu Yunwen.
Zhu Yunwen had clearly changed his initial attitude and now trusted him more. Over the past month, he had summoned Xu Huizu to the palace more than ten times, while Li Jinglong, the Duke of Cao, had not entered the palace even once.
Li Jinglong had not even been allowed to participate in the New Recruit Policy.
Xu Huizu understood what that meant.
Xu Huizu went to the Capital Garrison's training grounds to work with Tie Xuan, the vice minister of war, implementing the various policies and advancing the new training methods.
Zhu Di did not remain idle either. After leaving the Prince of Zhongshan's Mansion, he did not return to the Prince of Yan's Palace, but instead visited the residences of other princely lords. For more than ten days in succession, he either reminisced with the princes or called on distinguished officials such as Li Jinglong, the Duke of Cao, and Guo Ying, the Marquis of Wuding.
Some received him earnestly and with great ceremony, giving Zhu Di every mark of respect.
Others played along, responding cautiously and merely going through the motions.
Whatever their response, Zhu Di treated them all courteously.
What Zhu Di wanted was not to be a guest, but to shape public opinion!
The people of Nanjing City had previously heard that Zhu Di "refused to bow to His Majesty" and "violated the proprieties of a subject," but these had merely been rumors. Now that they saw him making his way through streets and lanes, visiting old acquaintances and friends with unfailing courtesy and geniality, those earlier rumors were utterly shattered.
"If the Prince of Yan is so courteous even to his guests, how could he possibly refuse to bow to His Majesty?"
"Some villain must have slandered the Prince of Yan."
"The Prince of Yan is loyal and filial. He would never do such a thing."
And so the winds of public opinion shifted, and more and more voices rose in praise of Zhu Di.
In the Hall of Martial Valor, Zhu Yunwen listened to Liu Changge's report and smiled in delight.
He had not expected Zhu Di to understand how to package and promote himself, manufacture public opinion, and expand his influence.
It had to be said that Zhu Di's public relations and marketing were very well executed.
Zhu Yunwen had even received quite a few memorials praising Zhu Di. Between the lines, they were all telling him:
Zhu Di was the Prince of Yan. Though he had slighted you at court, you should not be angry. After all, the Prince of Yan was foremost among the princes and commander of the north. You absolutely must not move against him, or great upheaval would surely follow...
Some of these memorials came from military officers and hereditary nobles, while others came from minor officials of the fifth or sixth rank.
Their connections were tangled like roots and branches, but tracing them to their source revealed that every last one had been in contact with Zhu Di and shared an unusually close relationship with him.
"Did the Prince of Yan visit the Prince of Qiyang's residence?"
Zhu Yunwen asked, narrowing his eyes.
Liu Changge nodded slightly and reported, "Yes."
Zhu Yunwen tapped lightly on the desk with one hand. Suddenly recalling something, he pulled out a memorial from the desk and said softly, "The Guangdong Administration Commissioner reports that Sea Pirates are running rampant, repeatedly attacking Guangzhou and other areas. This is a serious matter indeed."
Liu Changge said nothing.
Zhu Yunwen pointed to the pile of memorials speaking up for Zhu Di and told Liu Changge, "Compile a list of names. I will have a use for it."
Liu Changge left with the memorials in his arms.
The first day of the eighth month.
At court, Zhu Yunwen brought forth this unremarkable memorial from Guangzhou and addressed the assembled ministers. "Guangzhou reports that Sea Pirates have been harassing our territory and killing our people in Yangjiang, Guanghai, Xinning, Wuchuan, Suixi, and other places. Guangzhou has submitted a request for aid. What are your views, ministers? Who would be best suited to quell this unrest?"
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