Jingnan Strategy

Chapter 37

"Your Highness, don't you want this map?"

At the entrance of the small courtyard, it was past noon, and Wang Xuan and Yang Zhan were preparing to return to the main teaching ground.

Zhu Gaoxu gave the silver mine map he drew to Wang Xuan instead of giving it directly to Zhu Yuanzhang.

Such behavior made Wang Xuan very puzzled. He subconsciously touched the map on his chest and looked at Zhu Gaoxu with a puzzled expression.

"I'm giving you this map. I'm not asking you to hand it over now. When you pass the school exam, return to Yunnan, and take up a military position, you can present this map to me. I think you can get a good job in the future."

During the explanation, Zhu Gaoxu was worried that Yang Zhan next to him was unbalanced, so he reached out and patted him on the shoulder:

"Don't be jealous, I also left you a big gift, but you need to pass the school exam first."

"Hey, I knew His Highness wouldn't treat me badly." Yang Zhan's original depressed mood was swept away, and he saluted Zhu Gaoxu cheerfully.

However, after the salute, Zhu Gaoxu made a special statement:
"There are people in the court who don't like me. You two should come here less frequently in the future. Even if you do come, be more careful."

Zhu Gaoxu could feel that someone around him was watching him.

Although he didn't know if this was Zhu Yuanzhang's or Zhu Yunwen's, it never hurt to be careful.

"Then let's go, Your Highness."

When Wang Xuan and Yang Zhan saw what Zhu Gaoxu said, they realized that there were so many doorways in Nanjing.

They looked around and then bowed carefully.

"Go." Zhu Gaoxu nodded, and upon seeing this, the two of them also drove the donkey cart out of the alley.

Watching them leave, Zhu Gaoxu also returned to the courtyard and closed the door.

However, it seemed that because it was daytime and this was where the guards' family members were stationed, there were many sounds of children playing around, which made him unable to calm down.

I reluctantly read the book, but felt like someone was watching me again.

He turned around and saw that five or six children were lying next door watching him reading.

Seeing that Zhu Gaoxu had discovered them, they all retracted their heads like gophers, which made people laugh.

Seeing this, Zhu Gaoxu also got up and walked to the wall of the yard, waiting quietly.

After a while, as expected, carrot heads were sticking out from the courtyard wall, making eye contact with Zhu Gaoxu.

Several dolls felt embarrassed and wanted to pull their necks back, but Zhu Gaoxu asked in an unfunny way: "What is there to see or do in my study?"

The dolls did not dare to answer Zhu Gaoxu's words, so they retracted their heads and did not show them again for a long time.

Without them, Zhu Gaoxu felt that the surroundings were much quieter, so he continued to read military books in the study, and used the sand table for exercises from time to time.

After a long time, several dolls showed up again and peeked at Zhu Gaoxu's actions, but Zhu Gaoxu ignored them.

It wasn't until dusk that there was a knock on his courtyard door, and he put down his military instructions and walked out. When the children saw him walking out, they all withdrew their heads, like whack-a-mole.

"My legs are really strong..."

Glancing at the courtyard wall, Zhu Gaoxu didn't expect that these children could lie down and watch him all afternoon.

Withdrawing his gaze, he also came to the courtyard gate.

"May I ask who you are, Customer Xu?"

After opening the door, a young man in his teens appeared at the door holding a food box.

He was dressed in short brown clothes and had a coarse cloth tied on his head.

"It's me. How many cents are these in total?"

Zhu Gaoxu took out a wooden sign, which showed his identity and the name of the dish.

The young man took it and checked it. After confirming that it was correct, he handed the food box out:

"The three dishes, one soup and two bowls of rice you ordered will cost you 27 yuan." "Okay..." Zhu Gaoxu subconsciously touched his chest, but found nothing.

Only then did he remember that he had given half of the money to the director of the almshouse in the morning, but there was still more than 100 coins in the money box in the hospital.

"Wait a moment, I'll go in and get the money."

Zhu Gaoxu took the food box, gave an explanation, then turned around and entered the house, leaving the courtyard door open.

When he walked out with a lot of money, the young man was making faces towards the right side of the door. When he saw Zhu Gaoxu walking over, he quickly put away his faces and put on a smile.

Zhu Gaoxu threw the money to him and glanced outside the door, only to see the children next door running into his yard.

"Your Majesty, I don't want that much!"

The young man who took over the money was startled, but Zhu Gaoxu withdrew his gaze, looked at him and smiled:
"It's just a reservation. From now on, three dishes and one soup will be delivered at noon and You time every day. Let me know when you finish."

"Okay!" After hearing Zhu Gaoxu's words, the young man happily accepted the money and raised his hands to show his gratitude:

"Then you eat slowly and put the bowls and chopsticks into the food box after eating. I will take them away and clean them up when I come tomorrow."

"Excuse me." Zhu Gaoxu nodded.

"I should be thanking you for giving me a bite of food." He smiled and returned the gift, and the young man left the alley with brisk steps.

Looking at his back, Zhu Gaoxu felt that this young man was quite carefree, so he turned his head and looked to the other side.

Sure enough, at the door of the next courtyard, several dolls were peeking at him.

"It's kind of interesting."

Zhu Gaoxu smiled and closed the door, carrying the food box back to the house to eat and drink.

Those children didn't peek at him anymore. It was probably dinner time and it was time for them to eat.

No one disturbed him. After a simple meal, Zhu Gaoxu continued to read until night fell as he did yesterday. Then he reluctantly put away the military book and went back to the bedroom on the other side to rest briefly.

Just when he was resting, someone hiding in the dark also sent his actions that day to the Forbidden City.

"Today, Your Highness met with Yang Zhan, son of a hundred households in Shasuo, Chongming, and Wang Xuan, son of a thousand households in Yiliang. However, the three of them only discussed military affairs and used the sand table to discuss Yunnan, Southwest, Sanxuan, Liuwei and other places."

"Due to the great distance and the fact that His Highness turned his back to the window many times, it is impossible to read the text using lip reading, so I do not know the detailed content."

"Well..." Zhu Yuanzhang, who had already changed into his middle coat and was about to rest in the Qianqing Palace, listened to the reports from the military attachés. He lowered his head and thought for a moment, then looked up at the roof:

"It seems that this kid knows that someone is spying on him secretly."

"Now that you know it, let's withdraw some people. Just leave one or two people."

"Also, have you ever checked the character of the two military attachés you just mentioned?"

"Back to Your Majesty..." the military attache replied respectfully:

"After checking, it turns out that his family is innocent. His father was an old soldier from Dingyuan during the Zhizheng period."

"Old soldier..." Zhu Yuanzhang nodded: "There are fewer and fewer old brothers around me. Now I can still hear that two Dingyuan brothers are alive. This news is not bad."

During the conversation, Zhu Yuanzhang took off his boots:

"Okay, you go down. We will send someone to Duke Song's Mansion at noon tomorrow to convey the order. Remember to do it in front of that boy."

"Your Majesty, please retire!" After hearing Zhu Yuanzhang's words, the military attache slowly exited the palace, and Zhu Yuanzhang himself went to bed under the service of the eunuchs and maids.

But while lying on the bed, he couldn't help but touch the side with his hand.

Looking at the top of Babu's bed and feeling the empty space next to him, two familiar figures appeared in Zhu Yuanzhang's mind.

"Sister, Biao'er, I told you earlier."

"This man... will change. You two are wrong about it, but I am right about it..."

(End of this chapter)