"The first step that you should do now is to consolidate power with Yan Wang. He is your brother after all, your full sibling. And besides, he is the strongest Fan Wang at this time. He must be happy with your alignments with him."
To carry out this strategy, Rui and Han Zhong went to Beiping (Beijing's historical name in the era of Jianwen Emperor, where Zhu Di was taking full control as Yan Wang). They delivered a letter of consolidation request to Zhu Di. Meanwhile, Zhu Su was waiting at the former Xie Wang's headquarters as it was very risky for him to go outside. The central government must be busy looking for him all over China.
Finally, the thing Zhu Yunwen frightened the most, occurred. Zhu Su who had never consolidated power with Zhu Di, now really joined forces with him. If only Zhu Yunwen were not afraid of that divination, perhaps both of his uncles would not join forces to attack him. That was precisely the real phenomenon of "It is Blind trust towards a foretell which will make the foretell turns into reality."
At first, Zhu Su thought that he would have to wait for the answer for long time since Yunnan and Beiping were separated miles away (Beiping was at the northernmost of Ming while Yunnan was at the southernmost). However, the reply unexpectedly came so fast. It was even Zhu Di himself who brought the reply, by coming to Zhu Su's residence.
Speaking of Zhu Di, he was still the same as before; cheerful, warm, and friendly, but it must be noted that he was presently a sturdy, muscular man who was also agile in behaving - the character of a reputable armed force. However, nine years had passed, and it made the expression lines on his face become much firmer and harder, a mark owned by someone had passed through the harshness of life. And, if we wanted to make a comparison about which expression was more vivid in his face - was it the warmth or the courage - then we would answer it firmly and quickly: It was the courage.
"Su! And Youdun! Thank Heaven, you are safe!" Zhu Di came in, he was accompanied by large numbers of troops.
"Brother Di, how can you come here?!" Inevitably Zhu Su was surprised as Zhu Di came personally to his residence.
Not answering Zhu Su's question, Zhu Di instead looked around. "This place is very suitable to hide. No one will ever suspect that you are here."
"This is used to be my enemy's headquarters. But we have seized it. My men have taken very good care of this place while I was in Kaifeng."
"Very well, then! You indeed should have a secret residence as a hideout. And may I suggest; you should move around. Sooner or later others will find out that you are hiding here, while you don't have a strong army to protect you."
"You are right, Brother... My life has changed. My city, palace, and San Hu Wei have been confiscated, and now I even become the most wanted fugitive in the entire Ming. I'm even worse than the low-born." Zhu Su looked down, lamenting.
Zhu Di stared at him deeply, compassion emanated from his eyes. He already knew Zhu Su's sad experience. Not only his fifth brother had lost all of his power, but even worse, his wife also left him for eternity. Sorrows come in battalions. He understood, it was difficult for a normal person not to be depressed, and even for a weak-minded person, this ordeal could make him lose his sanity. However, instead of comforting with a gentle voice, he rebuked Zhu Su with a loud voice.
"Su! It turns out that you are a crybaby, then can you still call yourself a gentleman?!"
Zhu Su gazed up. Zhu Di was staring at him with raised eyebrows.
"I know you are sad. I understand. We all understand it very well. Who will not be hurt when finding out that it is our own families who have harmed us? Who is not depressed, since you were actually in a superior position yet now topple into a nobody? But, is that a reason for us to be weak and sinking into sadness? If you choose that way, you will be in this position forever, and those who do evil to you will live in a happy life endlessly! Do you want it happens? Of course not, right?"
Zhu Di kept on staring at Zhu Su with raised eyebrows. His eyes were full of seriousness. He knew that his fourth brother was already well-known as a reputable general, he had faced any kind of chaotic and fierce battlefields and it created an immense mental strength as a warrior who would not give up easily. Slowly, Zhu Su nodded. Smile creased on his lips.
"Yes, Brother... I am sorry... it's just... so hard for me to accept this fate stoically... there are so many things I must learn from you..."
"What else can we do? In this life, it's not the good and righteous one who will win. You've also experienced it by yourself, right? It's the strong one who will win. You have to be strong in order to turn things around, Su! "
Zhu Su nodded again.
One of Zhu Di's soldiers entered the room in a hurry. He bowed respectfully, then reported with an anxious expression, "Lord Yan Wang! Bad news! Your three sons have been captured by the Emperor!"