Jingming

Chapter 490: Don’t survive until he dies

The language is only slightly understood, and the personnel are even more unfamiliar.

It's always timid to be flattered, but it's lucky to be intimidating.

The cold wind destroys the snow, and the spring breeze melts the dew.

When the night is long, I write frequently, and it is better to add vermilion to the white silk.

Huang Jin ordered people to change to a new warm mattress and looked at Zhu Houcong holding the "Taibai Double Plum Blossom Picture".

"...Just keep it for now, just sleep like this, it's okay."

As a result, the two of them were not taken away. Huang Jin lowered his head and said, "That slave is waiting outside. Your Majesty, please give me orders if you have anything to do."

Zhu Houcong returned to the tent and lay down, while the two sisters leaned on soft pillows to help him squeeze his shoulders.

"Just rest and get warmer."

I asked before, and it turned out that it belonged to the family of a very important minister in North Korea.

How important is it? She is the granddaughter of Cheng Xiyan, who was one of the heroes of Li Yi's rise to the throne and eventually served as a political leader. She is also the daughter of Cheng Xiyan.

No wonder I have such appearance, such nutrition, and skin that has not been tortured by life.

As the first "first-class hero of the Jingguo" after Li Yi succeeded to the throne in North Korea, Cheng Xiyan was given the posthumous title "Zhongding" by Li Yi, and after Yin Yuanheng seized the throne for his nephew, he was invited to accompany him to appease the hearts of the old faction. Li Yi's.

It was also Cheng Xiyan who passed away early. He died of illness in the eighth year of Zhengde, and he did not encounter the later more cruel struggle between the Shilin sect and the Xunjiu sect.

Cheng Xiyan saved a group of Shilin sects during the Wu Wu Shilin Disaster, and also quelled the Sanpu Japanese Rebellion when he was in power. He was also highly praised among the Shilin sects.

After all, he was the character who responded to the poem "The Holy Heart does not love the clear stream" when King Yanshan indulged in pleasure and ordered all the officials to write poems.

Therefore, although his descendants gradually became marginalized during the court struggles in Li Yi's middle and later periods, they survived this turmoil.

Zhu Houcong also now understood the intentions of Xue Han and Lu Bing: starting a family was a family that Ming Dynasty could win over in North Korea.

It's not all about pleasing him.

These are the things that Zhu Houcong remembered after the Shen sisters explained their origins.

Having paid attention to North Korea's intelligence for many years, the important figures and forces of the former Xunjiu faction are naturally a top priority. Cheng Xiyan once served as an envoy to the Ming Dynasty in the ninth year of Hongzhi, which is one of the reasons why Zhu Houcong can remember him.

"Your grandmother is the daughter of Lord Dequan, the concubine of the Ding clan of the Li family?"

"……yes……"

The two sisters exchanged glances. They didn't say anything about this. Did His Majesty the Ming Emperor know so clearly?

Zhu Houcong stroked his left and right hands a little, feeling a little emotional in his heart.

Therefore, Xue Han and Lu Bing were not just anyone who dared to send them over randomly. To be honest, they also had blood from the Korean royal family.

That Dingzong was the second head of the Lee family of Korea. His nephew is Shizong, who is very famous among the Li family.

Therefore, Cheng Xiyan's wife is also the granddaughter of Dingzong and the daughter of Shizong's generation.

Her legitimate daughter naturally married someone with a prominent Korean surname, Shen, and she was a young and strong figure in the Shilin sect.

It was probably the teachings left by their marriage. Although their father was somewhat famous among Korean scholars, he did not serve as an important official. Instead, he worked in the cracks and taught at Sungkyunkwan in Kaesong.

After the Ming army captured Kaicheng with overwhelming force, he had become very close to Gong Yongqing and had dealt with him back then.

"Your uncle has been killed. Do you know this?"

The two sisters suddenly turned red-eyed and nodded.

Yin Yuanheng had gone on a killing spree before, but later had to abandon the city and flee. Cheng Xiyan's legitimate son, who was working in the central government office in Seoul, did not survive the disaster.

Zhu Houcong had just received the detailed report from there. Seeing that both of them already knew about it, he couldn't help but confirm something in his heart: This should be the time when Gong Yongqing, Song Liangchen, and Xue Han came together before Zhang Jing entered the court. After discussion, the chosen one was chosen.

Not only because of Cheng Xiyan's previous prestige, he had some good reputation among the Xunjiu and Shilin factions, but also because of his son-in-law's previous marginal status and status as a young scholar, and also because his two granddaughters are really It's rare - born from a fellow countryman, with beautiful appearance, your Majesty doesn't have to reject it no matter what aspects you consider, right?

The emperor of the Ming Dynasty is firmly in the imperial capital, and he can automatically enjoy the best of everything.

"Then I will reply to your father tomorrow, and then I will bring you into the palace, and then order your father to co-organize this North Korean encore."

"...Thank you, Your Majesty!"

The two were overjoyed.

After the disaster, there is still hope, and if my father can be reused in the eyes of the Emperor of Heaven, then everything will be worth it.

Besides, His Majesty the Emperor is not a bad old man with a surly temperament.

Zhu Houcong also knew very well that the kind of "razing everything down" mentioned by Tang Shunzhi was just a test and a statement.

Of course Tang Shunzhi understood that it was impossible to seriously overthrow all the aristocrats in North Korea. His proposal to "raze it down" actually showed that he understood the end of all the emperor's "institutional experiments": did he really want the emperor to occupy an empty position and let his ministers govern the country?

The latter one "bulldozes the powerful and makes decisions for the people" but insists on governing by a real monarch, which points out this contradiction.

Times are limited, and the experiments Zhu Houcong wanted to do in a vassal state like Korea were destined to lack a foundation.

In the end, they could only pull one faction to fight another, not only to make the people feel that Ming Dynasty was making the decision for them, but also to allow Ming Dynasty to have a middle class with common interests in controlling the vassal state.

In the longer term, it will take time to slowly change your thinking.

The two lovely people beside them are proof: Even if Gong Yongqing and others knew the emperor's ambitions well, wouldn't they still use this method to win over local forces for their future interests in North Korea?

The road is long, just take one more step.

The night is long and there can be more...

……

Eat other people's mouths, fuck other people's...

Zhu Houcong's legs were not weak, but for Mei Dingjia, he asked his son Mei Nai to enter the Jinyi Guard with Lu Bing the next day.

On this day, when he went to the barracks of the Beiyang Marine Division as planned, he still walked steadily and looked as heroic as ever.

"During this period, go to the Treasure Ship Supervisor to practice hard. After the spring begins, we will go to Incheon when the sea breeze picks up, and then to Jeju Island and Tsushima Island. I hope that you, led by the Black Dragon Ship, will triumph as soon as possible!"

The people he shouted to were the generals who would become the first crew of the Xuanlong ship, as well as the generals of other wooden warships.

The new ship will be very different, at least including a lot of steam engine operation.

Before going on an expedition, it would be enough for the emperor to come and patrol.

What's more, it's still the coldest month of winter?

Zhu Houcong was different from the previous emperors. He could only summon some officials.

He has been exercising for many years and does not have much baggage in his heart. He has personally gone to many warehouses to check on the preparations for food and weapons. He has also boarded the current chopper to check on the preparations for war. He even had lunch in the military camp at noon. .

Qi Jiguang, who had "made mistakes", was here, and Zhu Houcong called him over before leaving in the afternoon.

"Are you seasick?"

"...Back to Your Majesty, I am no longer fainting."

Zhu Houcong laughed: "That's good. Although your father is no longer a young official, I have expectations for you, otherwise I wouldn't let you accompany Xin Gong on his last journey."

After Wang Shouren's death, he was given a posthumous gift to the Duke, which was of the highest honor and grace. This was as it should be.

Without his discussion and timely decision with Duoyan at that time, there would not have been the opportunity to kill the Meng Yuan Khan in one formation, and there would have been no reversal of the situation in Anda's retreat to the north. If the trouble in the north persists, the Ming Dynasty will not have the opportunity to reform its military system, and naturally it will not be able to carry out the four-party strategic plan at this time.

Qi Jiguang was the candidate Zhu Houcong used to "squeeze out" the value of Wang Shouren's military thought in his last years. He was also the candidate who Zhu Houcong believed must have some connection with the Japanese bandits.

"I will fight bravely and live up to His Majesty's high expectations!"

Zhu Houcong nodded: "Japan is your stage, go ahead, I'm waiting for the good news of your achievements!"

In the twelfth lunar month, a letter was sent to Jingzhou.

Zhang Juzheng received the letter and was a little stunned after opening it.

Since he "made a mistake" that time, he was removed from his status as the prince's companion, and returned to his hometown in Jingzhou to concentrate on preparing for the scientific examination.

It is sad to say that I wonder if the examiner here in Huguang is afraid. He actually failed to pass the provincial examination this year, so naturally he will not be able to take the examination next year. The next examination will be in the original twenty-sixth year of Jiajing, which is AD 2388 in the new calendar.

It can be said that this was his first "big setback" since he was sent to Beijing as a child. He experienced the warmth and warmth of human relations in the officialdom due to the lack of smooth information from local officials.

But now, he received a letter from North Korea, and the letter was written by the King of Liao.

But Zhang Juzheng was very familiar with it. This seemed to be the tone of Mao, the mother of the Queen of Liao.

The content of the letter is very simple: I sincerely invite him to go to North Korea, and it goes without saying that I will promise him in the future.

Zhang Juzheng was confused: Didn't Mao know that he had been the prince's companion? She didn't know the inside story of this matter, so she thought she was really disgusted by the emperor?

This matter is a bit sensitive. If you don't handle it well, you may really make people think that the Liao King is a bit ambitious.

Are you also going to grab the prince's future team?

Zhang Juzheng immediately stopped laughing: Yes. He lost his status as the prince's companion and failed the provincial examination. At present, except for some informed and well-informed ministers, the emperor, and the prince, who knew that this was the path Zhang Juzheng himself chose?

Of course he shook his head, picked up his pen, and began to reply and declined.

At the same time, he had to write a letter to the prince, stating the reason tactfully. This was not only to remind the prince and to be loyal to the prince, but also to let His Majesty know through the prince.

Although there is no need for Your Majesty to pity me, the provincial examination cannot be so pretentious and obviously unfair to me, right?

Zhang Juzheng was really speechless for a long time because he couldn't even get on the deputy list in the provincial examination.

He didn't believe that he was so unlucky among the candidates in the Huguang Provincial Examination in this subject. Wasn't he conceited that he would be at the top and not even make the list?

But did he rush to tear it apart?

Zhu Houcong didn't know these things for the time being.

Shen Qi made his thoughts clear, and he would only watch the ceremony after the Xuanlong ship was launched.

Of course, out of encouragement for the attitude of senior corporate officials like Shen Qi, Zhu Houcong granted a title to Yu Haibo based on his achievements in building the Xuanlong Ship.

Zhu Houcong was the one who made the official and co-organizers, and allocated part of the original planned funds as year-end bonuses.

Then he went to see the situation of Dagu Heavy Industry Park, and Zhu Houcong's trip came to an end.

When he returned, he was different from when he came. There were two more beauties in the "imperial chariot", and the other ministers no longer accompanied him.

The two sisters, who had been named Yunjuan and Yunshu by Zhu Houcong, were naturally amazed by a train they had never experienced before.

After returning to the Forbidden City after "a few days' absence", the next step is to prepare for the New Year.

As New Year's Eve approaches, good news arrives in the Forbidden City.

Princess Yue gave birth to a son successfully in Yunnan, and the Ming Emperor's eldest grandson was born.

Zhu Houcong, who was only thirty-eight after the new year, was a little confused.

In fact, it is already a year late.

Last spring, Princess Yue was pregnant. But later Qiu Luan and the others committed trouble, and Mu Shaoxun received a letter from Guo Xun, so he knew the pros and cons.

Perhaps Zhu Zaiyan and his princess also knew about it, and the child was eventually aborted.

Fortunately, things gradually settled down later. Qiu Luan and the others were taken to the capital to commit suicide at the end of last year. This year, Princess Yue became pregnant again.

It seems that she was able to nurse herself back to health last year and it did not affect Princess Yue's health.

Now that the good news has arrived, Zhu Houcong is still distracted by the fact that he became a grandfather before he was forty.

"Good thing!" Zhu Houcong was in a good mood, "Draw up the edict, I will name it, and then reward it."

Over at Duanben Palace, Zhu Zaiyi also ended his period of true filial piety after returning to Beijing last year.

It has been more than two years since Sun Ming passed away in the early 19th year of Jiajing.

Originally, Cao Cha wanted to get married to the prince, but he was in the period of filial piety and still did not have a princess.

And the eldest brother’s sons were all born.

Zhu Zaiyi somewhat missed the feeling of traveling around with Zhang Juzheng and Qi Jiguang. He went to his father to congratulate his father, and also asked the people sent by the King of Yue to convey his congratulations to his brother.

According to the rules set by Zhu Yuanzhang, the middle character of Zhu Zaiyang's son must be Yi, and the third character must contain gold.

Zhu Houcong had some inspiration or bad taste, and with a stroke of his pen, the words "Zhu Yili" came out.

Now that there are many concubines and princes, perhaps his future grandsons will be able to form a periodic table of elements, right?

If I think about it carefully in future generations, good guy...

Of course, at this time, King Rui and Tao Zhongwen were already thinking about naming many elements that could be confirmed. What should come first and what should come later? It was destined to become an unexplained unsolved case in the future.

The emperor's emphasis on this aspect is clearly revealed.

After the rewards for the Princess of Yue and the Duke of Guizhou were arranged, Zhu Houcong looked at Zhu Zaiyi.

"The period of filial piety has passed. Let's choose the princess next year. Sisters who have reached their age cannot delay it for another three years. It's time to choose the prince consort next year."

There were several princesses who wanted to choose a prince-in-law before, but the oldest one was only over 20 at the time. Zhu Houcong really didn't want to experience the tragic event of his daughter being born too young and killing two, so in the end he still held off for two years.

Next year will be the year of the big test again, and this time I can rest assured to help them choose.

"My son, I would like to thank my father for your kindness." Zhu Zaiyi saluted, and then said, "My son, I received a letter from my uncle today. After thinking about it, I should report it to my father."

"Zhang Juzheng?" Zhu Houcong was a little surprised, "Say."

Zhu Zaiyi took out the letter. Since he wanted to report it, it was better to show it to the emperor directly.

After Zhu Houcong read it, he couldn't help laughing: "With his brain, doesn't he know that the water is not very clear? He deserves to suffer this. Dad also knows what you are thinking. Don't worry, King of Liao. Knowing the inside story, I can only rely on the important ministers and veterans sent by my father at the moment, and I also want to have some of my own team. When Zhang Juzheng first arrived in the capital, he stayed in the Liao Palace after all, and his ancestors also have a close relationship with the Liao Palace. "

"...We can't let him fail the provincial examination, right? Are the Huguang cultural and educational officials too speculative? Or have they asked the Ministry of Culture and Education?"

Zhu Houcong's face turned stern when he heard this, and Zhu Zaiyi immediately stood up straight and lowered his head.

"What are you afraid of? Are you afraid that the Ministry of Culture and Education will deliberately block it, or are you afraid that Tang Shunzhi specifically asked them to suppress Zhang Juzheng first?"

Zhu Zaiyi stopped talking.

"I reminded you!" Zhu Houxuan changed his name to "father" and his tone became more serious. "Zhang Juzheng himself taught you a lesson, but you don't understand it now. You are young, he is also young, and now he has experienced more What's wrong with some? When you succeed to the throne in the future, as long as you have the intention and confidence to make good use of him, are you still worried about whether he can succeed? Besides, this position will be yours in the future, who in the Ming Dynasty cannot be used by you? "

"...The son-in-law is taught, and the son-in-law understands."

Zhu Houcong's face softened a little, his tone softened, and he asked again: "What? I'm worried that there are many honorable relatives and young heroes who are willing to go to the vassal state, where they can control the wind and rain more freely, and it will be difficult to control them when you succeed to the throne. ?”

"...I didn't think that far ahead."

"Then you should think about it. But don't forget, those are all yours. When you take the throne, what you are thinking about is that no matter you are from the Ming Dynasty or a vassal country, as long as you have talents, you can use them! Dad will give you Once you have laid the foundation, whether you can digest it well or not will depend on you and your son in the future."

When Zhu Zaiyi heard the word father again, he knelt down with tears in his eyes: "My son understands."

"Get up, don't think about the things that you have and don't have." Zhu Houcong walked over and patted his shoulder, "It's a good thing that your eldest brother has a son."

Zhu Zaiyi was shocked, knowing that his father knew everything.

It wasn't because there were so many vassal kings to be divided now, but he still had some secret worries in his heart.

Zhu Houcong also felt helpless.

No way, everyone's position is different.

After being the crown prince for a long time, the torture became more and more intense. Will he become more suspicious in the future?

How long does it take to be an adult prince?

Could it be that he brought Shen Yunjuan and Shen Yunshu back to the palace to stimulate him?

Look, my father is still in such good health. What if I don’t survive his death?

Zhu Houcong shook his head violently: Don't think deeply about it, don't think about it too much, just celebrate the New Year well first.

(End of this chapter)