Rebirth: I'm a Daddy's Darling in the Qing Dynasty

Chapter 115 Practice is the only criterion for testing truth

Considering that they were on a military campaign, for ease of movement, Yinzhuo did not make the down jacket into an outer robe. Instead, he made it into a two-piece structure, similar to modern thermal underwear. This made the clothes easy to put on and take off, and the clothes were worn inside with an outer robe and armor, making him no different from others.

"Yinzuo, you're not joking with your brother, are you? Your clothes are indeed lightweight, but are you sure they can keep you warm?"

Yinzhuo was naturally very confident in his clothes. Upon hearing this, he got up, picked up the clothes that Kangxi had placed aside, and introduced them to them.

"Father, elder brother, don't be fooled by how light these clothes look. I guarantee they're warmer than your usual cotton-padded coats. The reason they're so light is because they're filled with goose down instead of cotton. For even better warmth, I used geese that have been raised for two years, and only the best down from their bellies. The amount of down used in these coats is of the highest standard. The Imperial Household Department started preparing the down for these few garments before the new year. It took them almost a month to find all the materials and send them to me. The production process took several more days, and we just finished making them today and brought them to you. If you don't believe they're really warm, why don't you go put them on now and try them out outside?"

Kangxi had obviously never considered that goose down could be used to make clothes. Although he still had doubts about Yinzhi's words, he still had Liang Jiugong take Yinzhi and the others inside to change their clothes. Then, regardless of whether his sons were willing or not, he directly made them stand outside the Qianqing Palace.

"Father, you've really put your brothers to the test. What if I was just bragging? They would have been frozen solid in half an hour."

Upon hearing this, Kangxi glanced at Yinzhuo, who had curled up back on the couch, and casually picked up his cup, took a sip of tea, and then slowly spoke.

"They're not stupid. If they're cold, they won't stand outside for half an hour. Besides, you brought these clothes. Even if they freeze to death, they'll still come after you, won't they?"

Haha, the clothes were brought by me, but you were the one who kicked the person out. The reason you're so brazen now is because you know that even if your older brother and the others are cold, they wouldn't dare to cause you any trouble...

Despite his complaints, Yinzhuo was quite confident in his down jacket. The weather in Ningxia was much colder than in the capital. If this jacket couldn't even keep up with the cold in the capital, he might as well just throw it away.

"Father, these clothes are indeed as Sixth Brother said. Not only are they lightweight, but they are also much warmer than cotton-padded clothes. However, the materials for making them are not easy to collect, so they are not suitable for large-scale production. Otherwise, these clothes could be issued to the Eight Banners army."

As the saying goes, practice is the sole criterion for testing truth. The results of Yinti and the others' practice were indeed as Yinzuo had said. They stood outside in the cold wind for half an hour and not only did they not feel cold, but they even started to sweat. Now everyone completely believed what Yinzuo had just said.

Time quickly came to the day the army was to set off. Before dawn, Yinzhuo was dragged out of bed by Dexi. Still half asleep, he was helped to wash up, change his clothes, and put on his armor before he became somewhat awake.

"My lord, I have packed everything you asked for. The things you use often are on the upper shelf, and the things you don't use often are on the lower shelf. Besides the thin down jacket you are wearing now, there is also a thicker one, which is packed with your usual change of clothes. If you feel cold when we get to the Northern Desert, you can wear that one. Also..."

Yinzhuo was going on a military expedition, not a day trip. Dexi naturally couldn't go with him, and neither could the other princes. It could be said that apart from Liang Jiugong, who was by Kangxi's side, the entire army consisted of men.

"I know, you've been nagging me these past few days. If I still can't remember, I'd be no different from a fool. Don't worry, your grandpa isn't someone who's never suffered a bit. I can handle all these daily chores myself."

After Yinzhuo finished speaking, Dexi's eyes immediately changed. How could I feel at ease after hearing just a few words from you? I've been by your side for over ten years, and the greatest suffering I've seen you endure is the medicinal soups you drink when you're sick. And you think you can handle these daily chores? If I hadn't called you today, you probably would have overslept.

Dexi was worried, and the most obvious sign of this was that he ignored his master's words and kept repeating the things that needed attention to Yinzhuo's ears like a broken record all morning. Eventually, Yinzhuo couldn't stand it anymore and told him the whole story word for word, and only then did Dexi calm down.

Naturally, a grand departure ceremony was held for the army. It was the first time Yinzhi had experienced such a ceremony, so he was inevitably a little nervous. Fortunately, he didn't need to do anything on his own. He just needed to obediently follow behind Kangxi and the other princes, imitating their actions. After the ceremony, the army officially set off. In order to encourage the soldiers, Kangxi did not return to the imperial carriage but chose to ride a horse. At this moment, everything was new and exciting to Yinzhi, so he didn't want to go back to the carriage. Therefore, he also chose to ride a horse and follow Kangxi.

Emperor Kangxi's entourage departed from the capital on February 6th, arrived in Xuanhua on the 11th, and reached Datong on the 17th. After a 47-day march, they finally arrived in Ningxia. If the Ming Dynasty liked to use eunuchs to supervise the army, then the Qing Dynasty could definitely be described as nepotism. Almost every one of the 27 battalions of Kangxi's central army had members of the imperial family.

Unlike the princes who were assigned to supervise the troops in various camps, Yinzhuo was kept by his father, Emperor Kangxi, as a mascot to gain prestige. He was supposed to be Kangxi's secretary, but apart from sorting out the court affairs sent from the capital every few days, he had nothing else to do. At first, he thought it was fine, but as time went on, everyone else had something to do, and he was the only one with nothing to do every day, so he started to feel bored.

“Father, why don’t you assign your son to a battalion as well? My elder brother and the others are so busy leading troops outside every day, and my son is just sitting here with you all day. I feel guilty.”

The battle at the front was progressing exceptionally smoothly. Every day, besides checking the battle reports from the front, Kangxi would also summon the generals at a fixed time in the afternoon to discuss and adjust the battle strategy. At this moment, the generals had not yet arrived, and he was reading today's battle report. Upon hearing Yinzhuo's words, he put down the battle report in his hand and looked up at him.

"I'm not keeping you confined. If you feel you have nothing to do, take Akshan and Hatu outside for a stroll. Just remember, you absolutely must not leave this camp."

Yinzhuo wanted to find something to do, not to go out for a stroll, so Kangxi's suggestion naturally held no appeal for him, and he refused without a second thought.

“My son doesn’t want to go out to play. I’m just so bored that I want to find something to do.”