Although Zhu Youxiao was deep in thought, his refusal to reply made everyone take a breath, especially the person involved, Cao Wenzhao, whose heart was in his throat.
"I know my crime and am willing to be dealt with by military law. I hope your majesty will not blame Bianjiao. He is still a child who doesn't understand anything!"
A law enforcement officer next to him knelt nervously and said:
"The military regulations of the Habayashi Army clearly stipulate that idlers are not allowed to enter or leave the military camp, but now there are children. It is the negligence of the minister and the law enforcement team, and I am willing to accept the military law!"
The two people's apology brought Zhu Youxiao back from his thoughts, and he said angrily:
"You two are guilty, but Cao Wenzhao first entered the capital and his nephew had nowhere to settle. It was also the negligence of me and the British Duke. I will give you a lighter punishment this time. You will be punished for marching in March, but only this time
!”
"Old Duke, please make statistics with the Logistics Department on how many family members of soldiers have no place to live. Record them in a book and report it to me!"
"Old minister (servant) obeys the order!"
After saying that, he looked forward again and saw a teenage boy, Cao, transforming into a dragon and dancing with a wooden sword. He was full of momentum for charging into the formation.
"Xiao Cao, stop playing your fake tricks, come on, try me for real!"
While Cao Bianjiao was practicing his sword, several sergeants from the Xiaoqi Battalion came by. One of them pulled out his sword and threw it to him after he finished speaking.
Cao Bianjiao immediately discarded the wooden sword in his hand and took the sword from his waist. Even though he was only ten years old, he could wield the sword weighing more than ten kilograms with great vigor, not much worse than those sergeants.
He has possessed bravery since he was a child, which is not comparable to ordinary people, otherwise he would not be called the "first fierce general". The "Lü Bu" Wang Fuchen in the late Ming Dynasty was probably barely qualified to carry his shoes.
"Okay, they say like father, like son. I'm afraid Xiao Cao's abilities are not much worse than his uncle's."
Xiao Cao turned into a dragon and gasped:
"In two years' time, I will go to the battlefield like you and chop off the heads of those slave-building dogs!"
Zhu Youxiao in the distance naturally heard these heroic words. He looked at Cao Wen and said:
"Your nephew is quite like you. It seems that your Cao family is going to have another general!"
Cao Wenzhao quickly replied:
"Your Majesty has exaggerated your praise. He is nothing more than a child's joke. It cannot be taken seriously!"
"I think he is quite brave, and judging from his actions, he is not what you call a childish joke!"
Zhu Youxiao smiled and joked:
"Let's go and see General Xiao Cao!"
The sergeant who was still joking in the racecourse saw the emperor coming in person, and immediately knelt down and shouted:
"Blessings to Your Majesty!"
Although Cao Bianjiao is young, he also knows basic etiquette. He also kneels down and kowtows in a decent manner like others.
When Zhu Youxiao approached, he took a closer look at Cao Bianjiao. Cao Bianjiao was indeed extraordinary. Most people would be too nervous to say anything when meeting the emperor, but he was calm and composed.
Although he is not a soldier, his aura and appearance are no worse than those of those battle-hardened veterans.
Judging from the sword skills he just practiced, he is already very proficient. It seems that he is not very old and must have been in the military camp for a long time. It seems that his military experience may not be shorter than Cao Wenzhao.
He vaguely remembered that Cao Bianjiao joined the army in Liaodong with his uncle Cao Wenzhao when he was young. He later accumulated military merit and was promoted to a guerrilla general. When he was twenty-two years old, he became a staff general guarding the road.
Moreover, both Emperors Tianqi and Chongzhen thought highly of him. It seems that like Huo Qubing, he started fighting at the age of fifteen or sixteen. This is a good seedling and cannot be wasted.
"How old are you this year?"
Cao Wenzhao was about to answer, but Zhang Weixian stopped him before he could speak. It was obvious that he had guessed His Majesty's intention.
"The boy is twelve years old this year!"
Zhu Youxiao asked again:
"Then do you know who I am?"
"I know, I'll see His Majesty the Emperor!"
After Cao Bianjiao finished speaking, he kowtowed three times. Cao Wenzhao, who was standing behind, breathed a sigh of relief when he saw this. He was afraid that this tiger would not be able to speak and contradict His Majesty.
Zhu Youxiao was very satisfied with his answer. It seemed that he was not only courageous, but also knew how to measure things.
"I am only a few years older than you, so I don't need to call myself a boy. I see that you have been in the military camp for a long time. You can be considered half a sergeant in my Ming army. You can be a vassal like them!"
"I know!"
Influenced by later generations, Zhu Youxiao admired Cao Bianjiao very much. Now he likes this fierce general more and more.
"I just heard you say that you will join the army and kill slaves in the future?"
"yes!"
"Well, the ambition is commendable, but killing slaves requires skills. Otherwise, it won't be you who kills the slaves, but the slaves who will kill you!"
"Let's do this. You come with me to the palace and learn the art of war. I'm looking for a good kung fu master for you and let him teach you instant kung fu. You will learn it for three to five years. When you have real skills, I will let you
How about you go with your uncle to kill the slaves?"
The people nearby were extremely shocked when they heard this. Even the usually calm British Duke couldn't believe it. This was such a great favor from the emperor. For more than two hundred years since the founding of the Ming Dynasty, no minister had ever received such treatment.
Emperor Wanli admired Li Rusong so much, but he had never even entered the palace gate, and the man in front of him was just a child. His Majesty actually wanted to teach him personally?
Cao Wenzhao was even more nervous now than when he asked for forgiveness before. Even he couldn't understand why His Majesty was like this.
Cao Bianjiao couldn't make up his mind. After all, he was just a young man who didn't understand the world. He secretly looked at his uncle, hoping that his uncle could give him the answer.
Zhu Youxiao asked Cao Wenzhao again:
"Cao Wenzhao, you are his elder, it is up to you to make the decision!"
"I sincerely obey the imperial edict. I will transform myself into my parents to thank Your Majesty for His grace!"
Then he whispered to Cao Bianjiao:
"Change into a dragon, please thank His Majesty for your grace!"
With his uncle's consent, Cao Bianjiao kowtowed again and again, which made Zhu Youxiao amused.
"Okay, let's get up. Have you picked up the characters yet?"
"Your majesty is wise, it is true that the word "bianjiao" has not been taken!"
After Zhu Youxiao thought deeply, he said:
"Then let me give you a name. How about calling it Linlong?"
The others couldn't help but twitch their mouths after hearing this. This was really irritating, but His Majesty was going to take him to live in the palace, so it didn't matter what word he chose.
"Good words!"
Zhang Weixian was the first to express his compliments.
Others reacted immediately and praised the emperor repeatedly.
The two uncles and nephews Cao Wenzhao and Cao Bianjiao also thanked him profusely, especially Cao Wenzhao. At this moment, he just felt that blessings were falling from the sky, and he didn't know what kind of bad luck his nephew had. His Majesty actually valued him so much.
This is no longer as simple as smoke coming out of the ancestral tomb, but the ancestral tomb is on fire. He is so excited that he almost jumps up now.
"Choose a good war horse for Linlong. There is no need to tidy up the rest. Come back to the palace with me later!"