Zhu Di Makes Empty Promises, So I Turn the Heroes of the Jingnan Campaign into Beggars

After transmigrating as Zhu Gaozhuo, the Yan Prince's second son, he receives an order from Zhu Di just after the Jingnan Campaign succeeds.

He still remembers his grim future: his own nephew will shove him into a bronze vat and turn him into "vat-braised chicken." Looking at his father, Zhu Di, who is frantically dangling the promise, "Your elder brother is often ill, so you must do your best," Zhu Gaozhuo flips the table on the spot: "Whoever wants to be that idiot can have the job. I'm done serving you!"

That very afternoon, all of Yingtian Prefecture is in an uproar!

Qiu Fu, newly made a duke, Zhu Neng, newly made a marquis, and dozens of other Jingnan battle-hardened killers all change into ragged clothes and carry broken official-kiln bowls bestowed by the founding emperor. Led by Zhu Gaozhuo, they kneel in perfect formation before the Crown Prince's residence and the Hall of Reverent Body, wailing and begging for food:

"Father! Big Brother! Spare us a bite to eat! Three years of the Jingnan Campaign, and your servants are nearly starved to death!"

The civil officials are dumbstruck, and Zhu Gaochi's convictions crumble!

On the dragon throne, Zhu Di spits tea three yards away. "You brat! This rebellious son is copying the way I pretended to be mad and ate pig shit back then?! Who does he think he's fooling with that broken bowl?!"

What Zhu Di doesn't know is that while these beggars wander the streets begging for food, they are also replacing the guards at Jinling's nine gates.

Two days later, thousands of black-armored cavalry smash through the gates of the Hall of Heavenly Favor.

With a broken bowl in hand and a bloodied goose-feather saber at his waist, Zhu Gaozhuo strolls up with a smile to Zhu Di, who is gaping in shock.

"Father, when you took Jianwen's throne with eight hundred men, you called it the Jingnan Campaign. Today, your son takes yours with eight hundred men. That's filial piety."

"Retired Emperor, it's getting cold. Time to change seats. Father, are you panicking?"