Daming: At the start of the showdown, Lao Zhu was stunned

Chapter 893 Zhu Su is held hostage
Zhu Su did not stop Ma Ye's provocation outside the city. Mrs. Shezi accused Ma Ye of murdering the chieftain of Aicui and asked Zhu Su to capture Ma Ye and hand him over to Shuixibu... Although deep down, Zhu Su also felt that what Mrs. Shezi said was very likely, he could not do so.

He is a prince of the Ming Dynasty. Even though he actually favors the Shuixi Yi tribe in his heart, in terms of his stance, he is on the same side as Ma Ye, the commander-in-chief of the Ming Dynasty.

It was impossible for him to hand over a third-rank military officer of the imperial court just because of Mrs. Shetz's one-sided statement.

The Tusi tribe was at the gate of the city, and the prince of the Ming Dynasty was frightened by their power and handed over the head of the commander-in-chief as requested... If such a thing that damaged the national prestige happened, even if Zhu Su was a prince, he would inevitably be criticized by the censors and others, and it would bring great bad effects to the Ming Dynasty.

No matter what, Zhu Su would not allow this to happen.

Ma Ye also bet that Zhu Su would not stand up for Shuixi, and now that the enemy was at the gates, it was impossible to deprive him of his military power and replace his generals in the middle of a battle, causing unrest in the army... When he stole a glimpse of Zhu Su turning around and leaving the city wall, Ma Ye knew that his bet was right.

"Hurry, guys! The Yi people will soon attack the city! Hurry up and bring the battering rams and arrows to the city wall! Arrange for people to boil the golden juice!"

"Everyone, cheer up! Today is the time to achieve great things, haha!" Ma Ye said excitedly.

The city of Guiyang was operating rapidly like a war machine. However, Zhu Su, who walked down the city wall, looked as ugly as the coldest days of winter.

"...Your Highness?" Feeling Zhu Su's displeasure, Gou'er said with some concern.

Arriving at the foot of the city wall, Zhu Su watched as the officers and soldiers of Guizhou Guard began their preparations for the war. This Guiyang city, which he had planned and built, was supposed to be a city that served as a link between the Han people and the ethnic minorities of Guizhou. But now it was about to become a meat grinder for the imperial court and the Shuixi Yi people to attack each other.

If this precedent is set, the Tusi tribes will certainly be extremely wary of the imperial court. If the Ming Dynasty wants to subdue these Tusi tribes again, it may have to adopt the Yuan court's way. Guiyang City is likely to become a military fortress to suppress the Yungui Tusi, just like Shunyuan City in the Yuan Dynasty, an empty city with only officers and soldiers stationed.

The control power of an empty city is far less than that of a trading post that can make the chieftains and their tribes obey... This has been proven in the previous Lianzhou Prefecture.

This is definitely not what I want.

"Do you think that Aicui's death was really just an accident as Ma Ye said and had nothing to do with him?" Zhu Su seemed to be asking Gou'er, but also seemed to be asking himself.

"This...may really be what Ma Ye did, but Your Highness, we have no evidence, and now is not a good time to deal with Ma Ye..." Gou'er said after careful consideration.

Zhu Su touched his chin. Although he was married, he was still not used to growing a beard. At this time, his chin had grown some rough short beard. He stroked the short beard and thought about the pros and cons and Ma Ye's possible motives.

There is no doubt that Ma Ye falsely accused Shuixi for the sake of military merit. He was a relative of Empress Ma, and now that his mother had passed away, it was the time when his father was thinking the most. Given his father's extremely protective nature towards his relatives, even if he heard that Ma Ye had done something evil, he would probably let him off because he loved him.

With this golden body, it is not surprising that he would take risks for military merit... He dared to kill Aicui, probably because he knew that as long as Shuixi was completely enraged, she would only choose to stand on his side.

As for afterwards…because the court decided to rest, many generals were already dissatisfied.

Just like a chariot suddenly stopped at the edge of a cliff, although the tragedy of the car being destroyed and the people being killed was avoided, the wheels and shafts would inevitably be damaged due to the sudden stop... These generals who opposed recuperation were the hidden dangers of the court. If Ma Ye successfully provoked the rebellion of the chieftains of Yunnan and Guizhou, these warlike generals would surely surge up and stand with Ma Ye.

With their help in waving flags and cheering, and with the golden status of Empress Ma's relatives, Ma Ye might not be afraid of Zhu Su in the court.

"Can Shuixi attack the city now?" Zhu Su suddenly asked.

Gou'er was startled, and quickly signaled to a guard, who immediately ran up the city wall at high speed. After running back, he reported to Zhu Su: "Your Highness, the Shuixi tribes have not yet attacked the city, but are setting up camp outside the city... Maybe it's because it's getting dark and it's inconvenient to attack the city."

Mrs. Shetz still wanted to let him hand over the murderer just now. At least she could be sure that many people in Shuixi, represented by her, actually just wanted to punish Ma Ye and give them an explanation... Now that they have not yet attacked the city, everything may still turn around. But if tonight passes, when they really fight with the Ming army, everything will be hopeless.

"Ma Ye has already made up his mind and sent an envoy to deliver a letter to the capital. If we want the court to trust us, we need the person in charge of Shuixi to go to the capital to present the matter to my father... If we can persuade Madam Shezi to go to Yingtian to seek redress for my father, perhaps this war can be avoided." Zhu Su murmured.

"How is this possible?" Gou'er thought for a moment and said, "Your Highness, even if Madam Shezi is loyal to the Ming Dynasty, now that Tusi Aicui is dead, she may not be able to convince the people of Shuixi."

"Besides, the Yi people in Shuixi are very excited. They will probably attack the city tomorrow. How can they get back and forth to Yingtianfu in time?"

"If so, if I serve as a hostage to gain the trust of the Shuixi Yi people, can I stabilize them and let them go to Yingtian to petition first?" Zhu Su suddenly said.

As soon as these words came out, Gou'er, Di Meng, and the three guards who heard these words all changed their expressions. Gou'er and Di Meng immediately knelt down and urged him: "Your Highness, you must not do this!"

"Your Highness, how can you risk your life? The Shuixi tribes are furious over Ai Cui's death. If they disregard your status, wouldn't you be putting yourself in danger?"

"Your Highness, please think twice. Please don't have such thoughts... If anything happens to your Highness, Shuixi will never be able to compensate for it!"

"Your Highness, you can't..."

After a while, a group of people were kneeling beside Zhu Su.

"...I know this is a dangerous plan, but if not, how can we restore peace in the southwest..." Zhu Su said. Seeing that the prince had no intention of retracting his intention, a group of people tried to persuade him. Di Meng said, "If Your Highness is determined to do this, please kill me first. Your Majesty has entrusted your safety to us. If you put Your Highness in danger, how can I live safely for the rest of my life!"

Others also threatened to commit suicide.

"Your Highness, you are a prince. If you hostage a chieftain tribe, wouldn't it bring disgrace to the prestige of our court?" Gou'er also advised.

"..." This made sense, and Zhu Su began to hesitate. If he went to Shuixi as a hostage, he would be able to stabilize the Yi people, but the court would also lose face.

"Maybe... we can make a compromise and persuade the Shuixi tribe through another tribe?" Zhu Su suddenly thought of it.

(End of this chapter)