Jingnan Strategy

Chapter 538: Sharp-tongued

"I have absolutely no intention of being so arrogant and rebellious!!"

Jiang Huai kowtowed in the hall the moment Zhu Gaoxu said the words, feeling very frightened.

Faced with his panic, Zhu Gaoxu still leaned on his chair, holding the memorial in his hand, and still didn't look at him.

The dead silence in the hall lasted for a long time, so quiet that the only sounds he could hear were the chirping of birds outside the window and his own breathing nearby.

In such deathly silence, Jiang Huai didn't know how long he had been kneeling. He only knew that he needed to kneel until the emperor was satisfied.

"What are the three cardinal principles?"

Suddenly, Zhu Gaoxu spoke, and as soon as he opened his mouth, he started talking about the three cardinal principles.

Although the current official education is mainly based on science, for those who have participated in the imperial examination, Confucianism still retains a lot.

The so-called three cardinal principles refer to the three relationships between monarch and minister, father and son, and husband and wife.

Does entering the East Palace mean that he needs to become a meticulous person who spends all his time trying to figure out what's going on?
"I... am ashamed..."

"Originally, I thought you were a practical person, so I kept you with the prince. Now it seems that you are different from those villains who are trying to figure out what is best for you?"

"As a Grand Master of the Imperial Palace, I don't study how to make the world healthy every day. I spend all my time studying my thoughts."

"Are you guessing my thoughts?"

"minister……"

"Go back!"

"His voice was a bit ugly, but it was for my own good."

"Your Majesty is in the prime of life, so it is not a bad idea to go to Jilin." Jiang Huai also convinced Master Xia that he even had to control the emperor's visit to Jilin.

At his age, although he already knows many things, worldliness undoubtedly has nothing to do with him.

The disappointment in Zhu Gaoxu's eyes deeply hurt Jiang Huai's heart.

While he could still walk, Zhu Gaoxu and others couldn't walk at all.

Xia Yuanji's eyes showed a bit of expectation, but Jiang Huai shook his head: "I was given some instructions by His Majesty, but I didn't see the Supreme Emperor."

Zhu Gaoxu's words made Jiang Huai look up suddenly. He opened his mouth and hesitated, his face full of surprise.

Jiang Huai's throat was sore and he didn't know what to say, so his thoughts were interrupted by Zhu Gaoxu.

"Why..." Zhu Gaoxu put away the memorial and looked down:

"Do you have nothing to say, or do you have something to say?"

Zhu Di also knew that Xia Yuanji was doing it for his own good, but he really couldn't listen anymore, so he looked at Zhu Gaoxu and said, "Look for a way to get him away."

After saying these words, Jiang Huai buried his head deeper.

Zhu Gaoxu was very disappointed with Jiang Huai. His relationship with Wang Xuan was so good that he would not forget Jiang Huai, who was highly recommended by Wang Xuan. What's more, Jiang Huai discussed the politics of Longchuan in Wuying Palace and proposed the construction of Longchuan Railway, etc., which were all practical affairs.

It was at this time that Zhu Gaoxu finally turned his attention to Jianghuai.

Before he could react when he left the palace, he felt someone grabbing him. Looking sideways, he realized that Xia Yuanji hadn't left yet.

"The old barbarian is crying terribly. Please ask someone to carry him away!"

Yes, he was originally a person who spoke with practical policies, but now he has become the kind of person he despises the most.

Jiang Huai really had nothing to say this time, because his ugliest side was exposed by the emperor, which made him feel as uncomfortable as needles all over his body.

After all, he had been favored by the people around him since he was a child, so he didn't feel that Xia Yuanji cared about his grandfather and great-great-grandfather. He only felt that the old barbarian had prevented the three of them from going on a tour to the north.

Because of this, Jiang Huai's thoughts were racing. He kept guessing the emperor's thoughts and trying to come up with the best solution.

Zhu Gaoxu didn't respond to him, and he walked out of Changchun Palace with mixed feelings.

After taking a few steps, he heard Xia Yuanji's howling again, and quickly accelerated his steps.

"Does such a person deserve to be called a direct minister?"

"I have nothing to say." Jiang Huai sighed in his heart. Zhu Gaoxu looked at him and shook his head:

"What can I do..." Zhu Gaoxu was also helpless. If Xia Yuanji had come to discuss politics and cry, he would have had him taken away long ago.

"Have you ever seen the Emperor's speech?"

After a long time, Jiang Huai came to his senses and quickly stood up and bowed to Zhu Gaoxu's back: "I thank your Majesty for your kindness..."

Throughout the ages, there have been many understandings and interpretations of the Three Cardinal Guidelines, from "Spring and Autumn Fanlu" by Dong Zhongshu of the Western Han Dynasty to "Wu Wenzhenggong Collection" by Wu Cheng, a Confucian scholar of the Mongolian and Yuan Dynasties.

"Jian Yi, the Minister of Household Affairs in Nanjing, has been promoted to Beijing as the Minister of Personnel Affairs. You can go to Nanjing to take his place. I hope you can do some practical things in Nanjing instead of wondering about my thoughts all day long."

Various explanations are different. Even for some emperors who like Confucianism, it is difficult to understand, let alone today's emperors who do not like Confucianism.

"Have you ever warned your majesty not to go to Jilin?" Xia Yuanji said unwillingly.

In his shocked eyes, Zhu Gaoxu walked off the high platform and walked past him towards the side hall.

In the side hall, Zhu Di and Zhu Gaoxu were quite good at cultivating qi, but they just frowned slightly, but Zhu Qiyue directly wanted to take Xia Yuanji away.

Seeing this, Xia Yuanji loosened his sleeves, and Jiang Huai also quickened his pace and left this place where he felt like a light on his back.

"It seems that you are not suitable to stay in the palace..."

But the problem is that this little old man is crying because he is worried about his father and his own health. Considering this consideration, few people in the entire court would do this.

The civil and military officials in the court looked respectful, but at least half of them hoped that their father and son would die soon.

Under such circumstances, the group of people were eager for Zhu Di and Zhu Gaoxu to go north and cause some trouble. Who would be as loyal as Xia Yuanji to come to Shangshu.

If you use this excuse to take him away and damage his body, then his father and son will really lose their wife and lose their troops.

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, please listen to me speak frankly!!"

"Ah!!" Zhu Qiyue shouted suddenly. Without waiting for Zhu Di and Zhu Gaoxu to react, the boy ran out, shouting as he ran, "I can't stand it anymore, I'm going to drive this old barbarian away!"

"Don't use force!" Zhu Di shouted as a reminder, and then looked helplessly at Zhu Gaoxu.

Zhu Gaoxu was also very helpless. With this kid's personality, after all, he was not the one they pampered.

Before the father and son could look at each other for too long, Xia Yuanji's crying stopped abruptly, and for a moment, everything inside and outside the palace was quiet.

"call……"

Needless to say, the father and son breathed a sigh of relief.

However, before this breath could calm down, the two of them couldn't help but become worried.

"Zheng He, go watch this kid and don't let him use force."

Zhu Gaoxu was a little worried about Xia Yuanji, so he reminded Zheng He.

Zheng He was also very worried, so he bowed and walked out quickly.

But after he walked out of Changchun Palace, the scene in front of him made him freeze in place.

One-character hour, two-character hour, three-character hour...

As a quarter of an hour passed, Zhu Gaoxu and Zhu Di, who were sitting in the hall, couldn't help but wonder whether the master and servant were causing trouble.

Just when Zhu Di was about to urge Yishiha to follow him out to take a look, he saw Zhu Qiyue walking into the hall arrogantly, followed by Zheng He with a strange expression.

"Where's Xia Yuanji?"

Zhu Gaoxu was the first to ask, and Zhu Qiyue said proudly: "I persuaded him to go back."

"Persuade?" Zhu Gaoxu narrowed his eyes, obviously not believing that the stubborn Xia Yuanji would be persuaded to leave by Zhu Qiyue.

He turned his attention to Zheng He, but saw Zheng He also nodded.

"It is indeed persuasion, but the way of persuasion is a little different." Zheng He was ashamed and did not dare to say the content.

On the contrary, Zhu Qiyue walked into the side hall proudly and said:

"I told the old barbarian that if he is worried, let him go north with us. If something happens, we will definitely listen to his return."

After the words fell, Zhu Qiyue said proudly: "Let him be quiet for two months. When April goes north, we can leave the palace overnight and go to the train station. The old barbarian may still be sleeping, and we will have arrived in Liaodong."

He was very proud, but Zhu Di and Zhu Gaoxu heard the sound stop suddenly.

Two dignified lords of a country actually wanted to patrol the north in the dark to avoid their ministers...

"You..." Zhu Gaoxu wanted to scold this kid, but Zhu Di stroked his beard and tried to convince himself.

"Actually, that's the case. If you can be quiet for two months, it won't be a big deal if you lose face."

Zhu Di said this, but Zhu Gaoxu was speechless.

After Zhu Di became the Supreme Empress, no one compiled the "History of the Nation" based on his words and deeds, but there were always people around him who compiled the "History of the Nation".

Moreover, judging from the actual recording method, it will definitely be him who takes charge. Doesn't this mean that he takes the emperor and grandson to sneak away in the dark?
For a moment, Zhu Gaoxu didn't know how to describe these two people. On the contrary, Zhu Di said happily: "Well, it's finally quiet."

"Yeah, this is a good idea!" Zhu Qiyue also smiled cheerfully, and Zhu Di nodded accordingly.

The two of them were enjoying themselves happily, but Zhu Gaoxu had a look of resentment on his face and didn't know how to evaluate these two people.

Compared with the fun they have here, Jiang Huai's return to the Forbidden City is not that interesting.

When his carriage entered the Anding Gate, the sound of dusk drums was already ringing, so instead of going to the Wuying Hall, he was going to go to the East Palace via the Donghua Gate.

When his carriage stopped, the drums had completely stopped. After a briefing, he was able to walk into the Donghua Gate under the supervision of Shangzhi soldiers and horses, and walked towards the East Palace of the Outer Court.

In the dark outer court, only the oil lamps in the hands of the patrolling guards in the palace were still bright, followed by the candlelight in various palaces.

Jiang Huai was taken to the Chunhe Hall of the East Palace, where he met Wang Ji, Gao Guan, Lu Yu, Wang Huan, and Zhu Zhanhe.

"how?"

When Zhu Zhanhe saw Jiang Huai walking into the hall, he immediately stood up and stepped forward to greet him.

Upon seeing this, Jiang Huai told Zhu Gaoxu's handling of the Suzhou parade in the Changchun Palace.

When they learned that Zhu Gaoxu had sent people to arrest the thirteen principal criminals of the Suzhou parade and released the rest, everyone in the hall looked at each other.

Although after Jiang Huai and Zhu Zhanhe's earlier analysis, everyone knew that the emperor had been paying attention to this matter for a long time, they did not expect that the emperor's speed was so fast. They had just learned about what happened in Suzhou Mansion, and the emperor had already sent people to catch the main culprit.

Thinking of this, they turned their attention to Wang Huan, who was helpless: "I only have a few hundred people in my hands, so I really can't investigate."

"Yeah" Zhu Zhanhe nodded silently. He felt that his father was disappointed in him, so he took action personally.

"Besides..." Jiang Huai hesitated to tell him about the emperor's criticism of him and his transfer to Nanjing as Minister of Household Affairs.

When he learned that Jiang Huai was going to be transferred out of the cabinet, Zhu Zhanhe immediately frowned and said, "This matter is my fault and should not have anything to do with you."

"I will go to Daming Palace now to explain this matter to my father. Don't worry!"

Zhu Zhanhe walked out, but was stopped by Jiang Huai with a bow: "Your Highness, this is also a good opportunity."

"That's right, Your Highness. Wen Qing went to Jiangnan. It will only do us good, not bad."

Lu Yu also stood up to stop him, worried that Zhu Zhanhe would do something stupid.

Facing the obstruction of the two of them, Zhu Zhanhe shook his head and said:
"Of course I know that when he goes to Jiangnan, he can sort out the southern finances, and he can also recommend talented officials left behind in Nanjing to strengthen my power."

"But if I have to lose Wenqing for this, then I will never want to!"

Zhu Zhanhe showed his responsible side. Although this quality was a shortcoming in the emperor, it was indeed easy to impress his ministers.

Not only Jiang Huai, but also Lu Yu, Wang Ji, Gao Guan, Wang Huan and others were moved and bowed: "Why is it necessary for your highness to do this?"

"As the master of the people, if I can't protect the people below, then why should I supervise the country?"

Zhu Zhanhe avoided the obstruction of Jianghuai and walked quickly outside.

Upon seeing this, Jiang Huai and others caught up, but Zhu Zhanhe could ride on a horse, which they couldn't catch up with.

Watching him leave, everyone couldn't help but worry about him.

At the same time, Zhu Gaoxu also left Changchun Palace and went to the Yangxin Hall in Daming Palace.

He walked into the hall and saw Hu Ji waiting here.

However, he took his time and washed his hands before asking, "How is it?"

"Back to Your Majesty, the case has been clearly investigated. It was the Qian's Business Gang in Songjiang that led this incident."

Hu Ji responded to the culprit of the Suzhou parade, but upon hearing this, Zhu Gaoxu chuckled and said, "It's a bit interesting."

"Your Majesty, do you want me to take action now?" Hu Ji stepped forward to ask, but Zhu Gaoxu shook his head: "No need."

He walked to the main seat in the Yangxin Hall and sat down. He looked at Hu Ji and Yi Shiha who were following him. He touched his mustache with one hand and picked up a memorial with the other.

"Send a message to the capital and I will go to court in person in three days."

"Yes……"

The two bowed in agreement, and Zhu Gaoxu also continued: "This time I go to Jilin just in time to see that person. If he is trained well, he can be sent on a mission."

The person he mentioned was Wang Hui without much thought, and when he mentioned Wang Hui, he was probably going to stir up another big case.

Thinking of this, Hu Ji and Yi Shiha looked at each other vaguely, while Zhu Gaoxu was immersed in the world of reading memorials.

As time passed little by little, when Haishi arrived, a sound of singing suddenly came from outside the hall.

"Your Majesty, my son Zhu Zhanhe wants to see your Majesty!"

When they learned that Zhu Zhanhe had arrived, Hu Ji and Yi Shiha looked at each other and turned their attention to their majesty.

Zhu Gaoxu had long expected that Zhu Zhanhe would come, but he was not in a hurry. Instead, he was reading the memorial in his hand.

Seeing that Zhu Gaoxu didn't speak, the two of them couldn't say anything. They just felt that their majesty would not embarrass the prince for too long.

However, as time passed and the candles were half burned, His Majesty made no move to speak, and the two of them gradually became anxious.

Yi Shiha tried to exit the Yangxin Hall, but Zhu Gaoxu raised his head and looked at him, his meaning was obvious.

Seeing this, Yi Shiha could only return to Hu Ji and stand with him waiting for Zhu Gaoxu to speak.

A quarter of an hour, two quarters of an hour, three quarters of an hour...

As time gradually came to midnight, the news that Zhu Zhanhe had knelt in the Yangxin Hall for more than half an hour also reached the Changchun Palace.

When Zhu Di heard the news, he immediately looked at Zhu Qiyue, who was already sleeping soundly next to him.

He reached out and patted the kid's belly, but the kid turned over and continued to sleep.

It wasn't until Zhu Di gave him a cruel slap on his butt that he woke up slowly and looked at Zhu Di in confusion: "Grandpa, are you going to hit me?"

"Your father has been kneeling in the Yangxin Hall for half an hour. If you don't feel bad, just continue to sleep."

Zhu Di sighed a few times. When Zhu Qiyue heard this, he immediately became energetic. He got out of bed, put on his shoes and ran out.

Not long after, rapid footsteps came from a distance, and Zhu Zhanhe, who was kneeling in front of the Yangxin Hall, also looked in the direction of the footsteps.

He originally thought the person coming was his grandfather, but he didn't expect it to be his eldest son.

"Dad, why are you kneeling down?"

Zhu Qiyue's voice was very loud, for fear that Zhu Gaoxu in the palace wouldn't be able to hear him.

"Keep your voice down, don't disturb your grandpa..."

"Ah? You said grandpa is angry!"

Although Zhu Qiyue was young, he had many thoughts. Although he didn't know why his father was kneeling here, he must have done something that dissatisfied his grandfather.

Now that he is here, he can only summon his father into the palace if he makes a big fuss and makes his grandfather unable to bear the children to see the joke.

"If you are noisy, call the prince in."

Sure enough, after Zhu Qiyue's voice reached the palace, Zhu Gaoxu took the initiative to call Zhu Zhanhe into the palace in order to take care of Zhu Zhanhe's face.

Seeing this, Yishiha, who had been waiting for a long time, quickly saluted and bowed, walked quickly outside the hall and bowed to Zhu Zhanhe who was kneeling outside the hall: "Your Highness, Your Majesty calls you into the hall."

"Yes……"

Zhu Zhanhe's legs were numb from his knees, but Zhu Qiyue quickly helped him stand up with quick eyes and hands.

"Dad, what's going on?"

At this time, Zhu Qiyue asked his father in a low voice, but Zhu Zhanhe didn't want to involve him, so he smiled and touched the back of his head and walked in without saying anything.

Zhu Qiyue saw that he didn't say anything and didn't ask any questions. He just helped him into the hall and glanced at his grandfather's expression. After making sure that he was not really angry, he walked to the side and brought a chair over.

"My son, I see your majesty. Long live your majesty..."

"Grandpa, my father heard that you were going on a tour and came here to see you. Why did you keep him kneeling for so long!"

Zhu Qiyue told a nonsense, and Zhu Gaoxu snorted coldly: "If he really came to see him because he was on patrol, then I should be lucky."

These words made Zhu Zhanhe feel uncomfortable, but Zhu Qiyue spoke eloquently: "Then you should be happy. My father wants to come to see you and then talk about government affairs."

Zhu Qiyue pushed the relationship between father and son to the forefront. Zhu Zhanhe also understood his son's thoughts and quickly bowed:
"I heard that my father was going on a patrol, but I didn't know the time, so I came here to ask about it."

"If we go out on patrol too early, the Northeast and Mobei will be bitterly cold, and the cold air may enter our bodies and hurt our bodies."

"My son is here to inquire and advise. I hope that my father will go to Jilin after summer. This is the safest way."

Seeing his father say this, Zhu Qiyue breathed a sigh of relief and looked at his grandfather.

"Hmph, you are really good. A good minister will listen to his ministers, a son will listen to his son if he is good, and I will listen to my son if he is good. You don't have the slightest opinion at all!"

Zhu Gaoxu said angrily, Zhu Zhanhe lowered his head when he was told, and Zhu Qiyue also roughly understood what he meant.

"People say that I am a hero and my grandfather is a hero, so my grandfather is a hero and my grandfather is a hero. Only my father can be a hero and I can be a hero."

"Since grandpa is a hero, then although my father is also a hero, he is just a hero in front of grandpa, so he naturally has to listen to grandpa."

"Above the temple, my grandfather is such a hero, so the officials he arranges will not be any worse. Although my father has his own opinions, he naturally has to listen to the opinions of his ministers."

"I'm a kid. How can I say that my father listens to me? I should be the one who helps my father. Just like my father often helps my grandfather when he does things."

In a few words, Zhu Qiyue attributed the reason why Zhu Zhanhe listened to his ministers' suggestions to Zhu Gaoxu, the king's father, and by the way, he used the love between father and son to impress Zhu Gaoxu.

When Zhu Gaoxu saw that this boy wanted to get involved, he immediately put the memorial on the table and looked at Zhu Qiyue:

"You are very eloquent, but do you know why your father is here?"

After the words fell, Zhu Gaoxu looked at Zhu Zhanhe. After Zhu Zhanhe heard what he said, he simply stopped pretending and bowed directly: "Father, Jiang Huai is a great talent. Although it is good for him to be sent to Nanjing, the thing is that he asked him to do it." It’s okay, it’s the son’s responsibility to offend his father.”

"If the father wants to punish his sins, he should also punish his sons and ministers for their sins!"

Although he was facing Jun's father, whom he had been afraid of since he was a child, Zhu Zhanhe still took responsibility for what Jiang Huai had done, even though many things about Jiang Huai were not told to him.

"Heh... your shoulders are broad, you can carry anything."

Zhu Gaoxu mocked Zhu Zhanhe, thinking that although he was responsible, he was not smart.

If he was more sinister, then I would feel relieved.

It's a pity that although he has changed his former integrity, he is still not evil enough.

"Grandpa appointed father to be the supervisor of the country. Naturally, father has to bear the responsibility of all the nine states for grandpa."

Zhu Qiyue spoke at the right time, and at the same time smiled and stepped forward to pour tea for Zhu Gaoxu: "Even if my father has no eyesight, grandpa's tea cup has been empty for a long time, but he still doesn't come up to refill it."

"My son was negligent and let his father down." Zhu Zhanhe also understood what his son meant and quickly expressed that he had neglected to care for Zhu Gaoxu.

The words of his father and son clearly meant that they ignored Zhu Gaoxu, but secretly they meant that Zhu Gaoxu ignored them, which made Zhu Gaoxu a little unable to hold himself tight.

Indeed, because he was busy with government affairs in his early years, he rarely took care of the people around him.

Think about it carefully, if you hadn't ignored your boss and failed to teach him step by step since he was a child, how could he be like this?

After sighing for a few times, Zhu Gaoxu turned his attention to Zhu Qiyue, who was grinning with big white teeth next to him.

"Grandpa, drink tea and moisten your throat before scolding my father."

After taking the tea from Zhu Qiyue, Zhu Gaoxu could only turn his eyes to Zhu Zhanhe.

"Go back and thank the Crown Princess for bringing out this articulate child for you."

(End of this chapter)