CH 7

Chapter 7

He was still in a daze. When he had received the imperial decree ordering him to lead five hundred imperial guards to follow and protect the Fourteen Prince to Liangcheng territory, at that time, he knew that from now on, his master would be the reputed, legendary foolish prince. Some of his colleagues who got the news sympathized with him, some laughed at him, and some secretly took joy in his calamity. From everyone’s eyes, he saw his own pitiful self, following a foolish prince, who chose his territory in a war-torn barren land. His official career in the future was ruined, and the hopes of returning to the capital in the future were slim. At that time, It’s not that he had no complaints on why he was unlucky, that he had to follow such a fool?

At the time the foolish prince made Liangzhou City his vassal territory, everyone in the capital laughed at him. How did this fool not think things through and go to such a dangerous place? Is it not good to live near the capital? Sure enough, a fool is a fool, and his thoughts were different from those of normal people. Can he even last for one or two months? But, that was his choice, and the Emperor’s golden words had already bestowed to him. One is afraid that even if he couldn’t persist through, it would still be impossible to return. Once he was there, maybe after living there for several years, he might get killed by the invading barbarians, and even then no one could appeal for justice for him. 

Under everyone’s laughter, the Fourteenth Prince, not right, it was Ming Yu who had already been bestowed as Duan Wang, set off with the protection of the five hundred imperial guards allocated by the Emperor.

Mo Jiang had no other choice, and now there was no room to change anything. He could only admit that he was unlucky. Anyway, this master was stupid, so what could he know? Just do your part and do it well. Then for the future days, it would already be good enough just to get through it. 

However, when he set off, the young man in beautiful clothes came to him with a gentle smile on his face. He had a pair of peach blossom eyes curved like crescents, and his voice was clear and sweet, “Commander Mo, I’ll have to trouble you a lot in the future now.” 

Mo Jiang was stunned for a moment. He didn’t expect that His Highness Duan Wang would specifically say such things to him. Isn’t it just his duty? There was no need for His Highness to talk to him personally.

Looking at the back of His Highness Duan Wang, who turned and got on the carriage, Mo Jiang felt flattered for the first time.

The rumor was that Ming Yu was a fool with imperious and domineering behavior. He always did whatever he wanted. Compared to other princes, he was indeed not good. Any normal person wouldn’t be willing to follow him, right?

However, Mo Jiang had followed Ming Yu throughout the whole journey and observed him secretly to find that Duan Wang was not like what the rumor said at all. His temper was amiable, and occasionally getting close with his attendants, he was harmless. No matter what he did, he never insisted on doing it his own way and would discuss things with others. For some very common matters, occasionally he would be confused due to his ignorance, but sometimes the words that came out of his mouth were shocking to the world. Things that no normal person would say. Often when this happened, he truly appeared to be foolish.

Mo Jiang had inquired from Qingping, His Highness’s personal maid in private, why the rumor outside about His Highness would become something like this. The maid gave him a blank look: Our Highness’s idiotic illness had long since healed, and some people in the palace were naturally unable to see that our Highness had become better now, and kept doing bad things behind his back. Our Highness is fine, but how can anyone else become aware that he’s become good now?

Mo Jiang was speechless, but he still listened. His Royal Highness was gentle and courteous all the way, he was good at accepting the opinions of others, and was also sympathetic to his subordinates. Over time, Mo Jiang put aside his grievances and followed him wholeheartedly.

Ming Yu helped him up and smiled, “I believe in you.” Just one sentence made Mo Jiang’s heart boil. 

“Commander Mo, give me some time. I will not treat you unfairly. Although presently the livelihood and environment conditions in this place here are indeed heavens and earths apart from the capital. But, if you guys believe in me, I will be able to use several years’ time to completely change everything here.” Ming Yu’s eyes were glittering with confidence. He does have confidence. With his wisdom and both his hands, he didn’t believe that he couldn’t work hard to make an ideal territory. 

As soon as these words came out, Mo Jiang couldn’t help but let go of his anxious heart, “This subordinate will go and gather everyone.”

Mo Jiang left. Ming Yu closed his eyes. When he opened his eyes again, his eyes were already filled with a resolute look. Not for others, but for himself. He had to strive for it. As long as one can change and make life better, who would wish to take things as they are? 

“Do you know what His Highness called us to do?” Zhou Dadan gently touched Li Man next to him, and asked in a low voice.

Li Man was impatient, “Who knows what he called us to do? Just wait and you’ll know.” 

Everyone gathered, and suddenly Commander Daren announced that His Highness Duan Wang had summoned them. They knew something in their hearts. Presumably, it was probably due to these lowly people’s big ruckus that Duan Wang couldn’t stand it anymore. Or maybe it was to reprimand them, to punish them. Even if it’s like this, they weren’t afraid. There were many of them here, so how could he punish everyone? Originally, following him and coming here had already made them feel an enormous amount of grievance. If he dared to punish them, wouldn’t he be afraid that the riot would get riled up and be unable to conclude? The law can’t reproach everyone, so won’t they be afraid of the disturbance getting bigger?

Speaking of this, Commander Mo was originally good, and was also intimate with these little brothers. But, later on, it wasn’t known what had confused his heart and soul, but he had become loyal and devoted to Duan Wang unconditionally. 

And with that, the lowly people were a little dissatisfied with Mo Jiang. They didn’t understand. Why is Commander Mo so determined to follow this fool? Is it possible that because there was no hope, he could only cling to this fool?

Thinking about it this way, Li Man sneered. A fool is a fool. What good is there to cling to a fool? Anyway, he didn’t want to submit to his fate. He wondered whether he should write another letter and send it back so that his family in the capital could take care of this and bribe people a bit to save him. His Highness Duan Wang finally appeared in front of them.

Ming Yu was now at a high place, raising his eyes to look at the dark and oppressive people below. These five hundred people were his starting troops. If he can’t appease them, if they couldn’t be of one mind, then in the future, he would fight alone and be exhausted to death on his own. He wouldn’t succeed in completing anything at all. Therefore, he must suppress the flaming contradiction in the bud now.

His eyes swept over everyone. The originally noisy crowd gradually faded. No matter how they looked down on this silly prince in private, he was still after all a son of the Emperor, a descendant, and member of the royal family of the Great Yan Dynasty. So, there were still some reveres left. 

Ming Yu squinted his eyes, and there was an unprecedented solemnity in his voice, “I heard that you have a lot of complaints about Ben Wang?”

No one below dared to say anything. Ming Yu cleared his throat with satisfaction, and said loudly: “Ben Wang knows that you are all Da Lao Ye Men (collective term for men of different generations) in the capital. Suddenly coming to this barren, wild, and deserted place, it must be hard to accept the current situation.”  He paused, then rubbed his cuff casually with his fingers, “But I want to say something, your choice wasn’t wrong.” 

As soon as this was said, some people snorted disdainfully at him. What choice wasn’t wrong? They were not stupid. Letting go of the good days to follow him here and bear the hardships, but still saying that was not wrong were words to deceive ghosts.

Seeing everyone’s reaction in his eyes, Ming Yu smiled and went straight to the subject, “You guys give me three to five years. At that time, if you still want to return to the capital, Ben Wang promises that you can all go back. Moreover, I will also promote your official rank one level….”

He still hadn’t finished speaking yet, when the people below seemed to explode all at once. What did His Highness say? Did they hear it wrong, or was His Highness talking stupid?

Even Mo Jiang, who was standing by the side, was stunned. He raised his eyes and looked at Ming Yu in disbelief. When His Highness said this, was he kidding?

Ming Yu’s expression was the usual one, meaning what he said wasn’t a joke. When the people below calmed down a little bit, he said, “You heard it right. Ben Wang was not joking. After three or five years, you can go back to the capital. I will present a petition to Royal Father. Whoever wishes to return to the capital, listed as personal imperial guards, can be promoted to one level up from the original position. However, all these things have conditions.”

At this moment, everyone heard it clearly and sincerely. They thought they had no hope of returning to the capital. But listening to His Highness, as long as they wait a few more years, they would be able to return to the capital. This was really great news, not to mention His Highness had said that once they returned to the capital to join the personal imperial guards, they could be promoted one level. As everyone here knows, the competition of being a personal imperial guard was very fierce. Without a connection, it’s impossible to get in. Some people would try all of their life, just to withdraw and stay at the bottom level in the end. A promotion of one rank would only occur when the sun rose from the west. 

Now they can be promoted as long as they wait for three to five years to return to the capital? This kind of great benefit, even if you lit a lantern, you still won’t be able to find it. What else could they say? Let alone three to five years, they can afford to wait another ten years.

The joy of everyone was hard to suppress. A slightly sane person couldn’t help but ask, “We really can return to the capital in a few years? Are you lying to us?”

Ming Yu really didn’t bluff. That’s right. Everything had just begun, and everything to be done required manpower. As long as they waited a few years, when all the plans are on the way, it didn’t matter if they stayed or not. Moreover, he also believed that the development of Liangcheng would not be much worse than that of the capital.

Ming Yu raised his hand and pressed it down, signaling everyone to be quiet. When the restless people calmed down, he said: “A nobleman’s word is his bond. Since Ben Wang has said it, I naturally will fulfill my promise. Wouldn’t it be better for everyone to listen to what the conditions are first?”

Everyone calmed down. Right, His Highness just said that there were conditions. Let’s listen first. No matter what the harsh conditions are, they will agree first. It will be better to struggle a few years to earn an achievement.

“Ben Wang’s conditions are very simple. You are the imperial guards, you are officers and soldiers, you are military personnel. It is your duty as a soldier to obey orders. Ben Wang wants you to be unconditionally devoted, unconditionally reliable, and must obey orders no matter what. Therefore, everyone must follow orders and act accordingly. One must not be outwardly devoted but opposing inwardly. Also, one absolutely cannot act without permission or behave unscrupulously to bully the common people. If this is disobeyed, one will absolutely not be forgiven easily.”  

When Ming Yu finished speaking, everyone was silent. What kind of conditions are these conditions? One, it wasn’t telling them to do something shameful, and second, it wasn’t sending them to their deaths. It was just to follow the rules, but this is what soldiers should abide by, so why did His Highness make it sound so serious? 

Ming Yu looked around, waved his arm, and said powerfully: “You all must always remember that you are all soldiers. You are not here to protect a person. The most important thing you should protect is the kingdom, your home. One’s nation, honor, and responsibility should always be put first. Tell Ben Wang, can you accomplish it?”

Mo Jiang’s heart trembled. He was the first one to step forward and bow to the ground, “Yes! Subordinate will definitely accomplish it!”

“Yes!” Everyone knelt down and promised. They saw hope in Ming Yu’s words. No matter what, at this moment, they all sincerely showed their allegiance.

Ciacia/N: *sobs* I’m so proud of him. And! Therefore, this is how the ‘Little Fatty Yu’s Cult’ established. Ngl, it was so dope tho, the speech was so powerful that I shed tears of joy.