Rebirth of Zhu Di's son

Chapter 148 His Highness’s foresight
After the dispersal.

Zhu Di ordered people to call Zheng Ci, the Minister of Rites, to the Wenhua Hall.

"Meet Your Majesty."

Zheng Ci bowed and bowed.

"Exemption."

Zhu Di raised his hand and said, "Give me a seat."

Li Xing immediately moved a chair and placed it ten steps away from the royal table.

According to the etiquette of the Ming Dynasty, the emperor granted a seat, and ministers were not allowed to show off and refuse, so Zheng Ci honestly sat on one-third of the chair.

"Many overseas tribute envoys have come from afar, and I have decided to host a banquet to entertain them. What do you think of Zheng Qing?" Zhu Di said straight to the point.

"I have no objection."

Zheng Ci said respectfully.

Zhu Di continued: "I plan to hold the banquet at Fengtianmen, what do you think?"

"Emperor Taizu also hosted a banquet at Fengtianmen to entertain envoys from foreign vassals. Your Majesty followed Taizu's example, and I naturally have no objections."

Zheng Ci said respectfully again.

Zhu Di said: "In that case, let's hold a luncheon at Fengtianmen today to entertain foreign tribute envoys. Remember, the food should not be shabby and should reflect the style of the heavenly kingdom. The prince and I will attend the luncheon."

"Your Majesty, please rest assured that I will organize this banquet in accordance with the highest standards for the imperial court to receive guests from foreign vassals."

Zheng Ci immediately stood up and bowed in salute.

Zhu Di nodded and said, "Okay, just go down."

After Zheng Ci retreated, he looked at Li Xing outside the palace and said, "Li Xing?"

"The servant is here."

Li Xingji stepped inside and bowed.

"Go and tell Wang Jinghong to come and see you."

Zhu Di ordered: "I have something to ask him."

Li Xing hesitated slightly and stopped talking.

Upon seeing this, Zhu Di said, "Just say whatever you want."

Li Xing said respectfully: "Your Majesty, would you like to call Eunuch Zheng here too?"

Zhu Di hesitated for a moment, and then said: "The tribute envoys from various countries are familiar with Zheng He, and I have asked him to be responsible for the reception. Chen Xuan was originally the commander-in-chief of the naval division, and he still needs to make arrangements for the rest of the fleet entering the port. Send the message Come and meet Wang Jinghong."

"The slaves obey the order."

Li Xing immediately accepted the order, bowed and retreated.

Zhu Di really wanted to know about Zheng He's overseas experiences in the past two years, but things had to be prioritized, and receiving foreign tribute envoys needed to reflect the magnanimity of the Great Tomorrow and should not be taken lightly.

If he acted rashly, it would not only be disgraceful, but also damaging to his emperor's dignity.

Therefore, Zhu Di thought about it for a while and decided to summon Zheng He again after the luncheon.

at the same time.

the other side.

Following Zhu Di's orders, Zhu Gaoxu, together with Ouyang Lun, was choosing a suitable place to display overseas treasures, exotic treasures, animals and other rare things outside the Meridian Gate.

"Your Highness, do you want to display the giant elephant and lion too?"

Ouyang Lun asked first, then approached Zhu Gaoxu and whispered: "Your Highness, these two beasts are rare things. His Highness the King of Dai has just sent a message to me, hoping to send one or two to Zongwangfang."

Zhao Junchen, Wei Xian and other guards were hanging around nearby and did not follow Zhu Gaoxu, so Ouyang Lun became more bold when speaking and had less scruples.

Zhu Gaoxu already had the idea of ​​building a zoo in his mind. When he heard what Ouyang Lun said, a smile appeared on his face and said: "One or two are too few. After ten days, all the animals will be sent to the Zongwang." Square.”

"What do you mean, Your Highness?" Ouyang Lun couldn't help but ask.

Zhu Gaoxu said: "When this is over, you can visit my acting uncle in person and tell him that I have decided to ask my father to build a zoo in the enclosure next to Zongwangfang and raise these overseas animals in separate areas in the park. After the zoo is completed, Uncle Dai Wang can visit it every day."

"His Highness has a brilliant move!"

Ouyang Lun felt that this method was very good. It did not disgrace the king, and it also properly accommodated the animals that were paid tribute by overseas countries.

"Haha! Hahaha! Hahahaha!"

Zhu Gaoxu looked up to the sky and laughed for a while, which made Ouyang Lun at a loss.

"Okay, I just suddenly remembered something extremely ridiculous, and I didn't mean anything else."

After Zhu Gaoxu finished laughing, he returned to his normal calm posture and explained to Ouyang Lun.

Ouyang Lun didn't think much about it, pointed to a large open space in front of him and said, "This place is relatively open, suitable for placing giant corals, animal cages and other objects."

Zhu Gaoxu nodded, and then suddenly said: "How many cargo ships from the imperial court will come back this time?"

"Your Highness, let me think about it."

Ouyang Lun thought: "This time, the imperial fleet led by Eunuch Zheng brought back a total of more than 800 kinds of overseas products such as pearls, corals, and ambergris. It should have been loaded with 87 cargo ships, plus various other exotic birds. A total of 130 ships of exotic animals, flowers, trees and other items should have been shipped.”

Zhu Gaoxu keenly caught the words "87 cargo ships" and secretly wrote them down.

"Is Your Highness worried that there are not enough manpower to carry the goods?" Ouyang Lun asked.

Zhu Gaoxu nodded and said: "Without thousands of people, I'm afraid it would be impossible to transport so many things from the dock to you and me in half a day, and sort them neatly."

"Your Highness does not know that there are not three thousand boatmen and sailors who went to sea with the fleet, but there are also two thousand."

Ouyang Lun said something first, and then vowed: "Even if there are not these sailors and boatmen, as long as His Highness speaks, with my reputation in the business community of the capital, in half a day, let alone 1000 people, there will be 2000 or 3000 people. I can find them for His Highness quickly."

"it is good!"

Zhu Gaoxu was waiting for Ouyang Lun's words, and he immediately clapped his hands and said: "All the boatmen and sailors are homesick and will be exhausted physically and mentally when they come back. In this way, you can use my name to go to the capital to recruit farmers, traders and other people." There should not be too many young men among them, just 800 people. Let them transport the goods that Zheng He brought back from overseas from the dock to outside the Meridian Gate. After the work is completed, each person will be given one tael of silver yuan as a reward."

"Is one tael of silver yuan per person too much? Also, what if someone accidentally breaks agate, frankincense, coral or other rare objects? What should I do with them?"

Ouyang Lun asked worriedly.

Zhu Gaoxu said: "Break it, just break it. Pick up the broken things, place them in the designated area, and continue to display them outside the Meridian Gate."

"Your Highness, I have the courage to forgive you. This broken thing has become useless, why are you still displaying it?" Ouyang Lun said in confusion.

Zhu Gaoxu said bluntly: "If we don't break or knock over things, how will the people in the capital know that overseas products are abundant, and who will be willing to follow the vassals to build countries overseas in the future?"

"Your Highness's foresight is really impressive!" Ouyang Lun complimented.

"Go ahead and try to recruit all [-] helpers within two hours."

Zhu Gaoxu ordered: "Remember, everything must be moved here before dark."

"I will obey His Royal Highness the Prince's instructions!"

Ouyang Lun bowed and saluted very wisely.

After he saluted, he asked respectfully: "Your Highness, won't you go back to the palace to rest?"

Zhu Gaoxu said: "The weather is good today, so there is no harm in waiting. When the goods arrive, I will personally designate the placement area for these goods."

After saying this, he approached Ouyang Lun and whispered: "Uncle, as far as my nephew knows, the merchant ship under your name has brought back many good things this time. Don't touch the things on display outside the Meridian Gate again."

Ouyang Lun smiled sheepishly and said, "Your Highness, I have accumulated millions of dollars in my family since I became the executive shopkeeper of a trading company for several years."

Zhu Gaoxu warned in a low voice: "My uncle went to sea with the imperial fleet this time and brought back countless treasures for the royal merchants. The rewards he can get are probably not enough for five generations. You have to weigh it clearly. Which one is more important? "

"Thank you for your advice, Your Highness. I understand."

Ouyang Lun looked embarrassed and said respectfully.

"Go and get busy." Zhu Gaoxu waved his hand.

"I excuse myself." Ouyang Lun bowed and retreated.An hour later.

Six teams of young and strong helpers in coarse linen and linen clothes carried boxes of goods through Chengtian Gate and appeared in Zhu Gaoxu's field of vision outside the Meridian Gate.

At this time, Zhu Gaoxu, who was sitting on the top chair, immediately stood up and looked up.

He found that many clerks from Ouyang Lun's business were leading six columns of hundreds of people, walking towards the Meridian Gate in an orderly manner.

"The prince-in-law's work really makes people feel at ease."

Zhu Gaoxu first sighed, then stretched out his right hand and said: "Thousand-mile mirror."

Wei Xian, who was standing on the right side behind him, immediately handed over the telescope with quick eyes and quick hands.

Zhu Gaoxu took the telescope and began to watch the moving team in the distance.

At this moment, there was a short young man in the team. He was probably weak. His hand slipped and the box he was holding fell down.

After the box landed, the lid was knocked over, and the silver coins, gold coins, pearls, agate, jade, and coral inside were scattered everywhere.

Those gleaming silver coins, gold coins, jades, pearls and other objects rolled to the feet of many helpers.

When all the helpers saw what was on the ground, their eyes widened.

Each of the six columns had a strong man who acted as the foreman. When they saw the things on the ground, they stopped and couldn't help but want to bend down to pick them up.

"What are you looking at? Let's go! Don't waste time!"

Ouyang Lun's store clerks, who were responsible for maintaining order in the team, saw the helpers stopped and immediately stepped forward and shouted loudly.

One store clerk angrily kicked the young helper who had knocked over the box, and yelled: "God damn idiot! Son-of-a-bitch idiot! I'm so blind that I chose you as my helper!"

He cursed and cursed, and actually started to cry, and said sadly: "You ruined this coral and jade. Even if I make a lifetime of money, it won't be enough to compensate you!"

At this time, among the crowd of helpers, someone whispered: "Are corals and jade so valuable?"

"Of course, this is a treasure that can only be produced in the sea!"

The shop clerk loudly said: "There is wealth everywhere overseas. There are countless islands in the South, West, North, and East Oceans. It is said that there are also golden islands rich in gold!"

When the helpers heard this, they felt the blood rush to their foreheads and their hearts beat faster.

So some people started talking to each other in low voices.

"How much money can you make from this trip to sea?"

"Isn't that right? Look at the agates, pearls and other objects scattered on the ground. It's enough for our family of five to eat for half a year."

"No wonder the imperial court wants to send a fleet to sea. It turns out that they are going to make money!"

"Isn't this obvious? Who would do the so-called business that is unprofitable and loses money?"

"..."

"What are you talking about? Leave quickly!"

The store clerk wiped his tears and pointed at the young helper just now and cursed: "You son of a bitch, you still haven't picked up the things on the ground! Broken things are also treasures! Pick them up quickly!"

Zhu Gaoxu put down his telescope, raised the corners of his mouth, and showed a smile.

Although he couldn't hear what the store clerk and other helpers said, he knew that this incident happened just after entering Chengtianmen. It was probably a staged act by Ouyang Lun, who deliberately asked his clerks to pretend to be helpers in order to make business.

However, it doesn't matter what the truth is, what matters is that his purpose is achieved.

"Your Highness, Prince Consort Ouyang is here."

Zhao Junchen has very good eyesight. Just when Zhu Gaoxu put down his telescope, he noticed that Ouyang Lun led two people pushing a bullock cart and appeared behind the team of helpers.

Zhu Gaoxu raised the telescope again and found that Ouyang Lun had really come over.

"Wei Xian, go and tell Prince Consort Ouyang to ask the store clerk to direct the helpers to place the things in the pre-demarcated area. There is no need to come to see me again."

Zhu Gaoxu handed the telescope to Zhao Junchen behind him, and then said: "Then, bring the consort to see me."

After a while.

"My minister pays homage to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince."

Ouyang Lun bowed and saluted.

"Exemption."

Zhu Gaoxu frowned slightly, glanced at Ji Gang and Ji Erlang who were being searched by Wei Xian in the distance, and asked Ouyang Lun, "What's going on with those two people?"

"Your Highness, please, this is what happened."

Ouyang Lun bowed.

Early this morning, after Ji Gang tied up his fellow villager Mu Su in a trick, he asked Ji Erlang to get an ox cart.

The two then carried Mu Su onto the bullock cart, and then drove to Yingtianfu Yamen.

On the way, they saw Ouyang Lun, the consort, using the name of the current crown prince, recruiting helpers to carry goods in the capital with great fanfare.

How could Ji Gang give up this opportunity to meet the current prince directly and go up to pay homage to Ouyang Lun immediately?

Ouyang Lun was also surprised. Seeing that Ji Gang was unarmed, he met him.

Therefore, Ji Gang told the truth about him kidnapping an assassin who intended to kill Sai Hazhi, the commander of Jinyiwei.

Ouyang Lun was shocked when he heard that Mu Su wanted to assassinate Sai Hazhi.

Saiha Zhi was a person appreciated by Prince Zhu Gaoxu, while Ji Gang, a Shandong native who reported and captured Mu Su, was an ambitious man who came to join the army.

Ouyang Lun knew that Zhu Gaoxu especially admired loyal and brave people. Now that he met a loyal and brave person like Ji Gang who "destroyed his fellow villagers with righteousness", and with Ji Erlang and a group of guests at the inn as witnesses, he immediately decided to introduce Ji Gang to Zhu Gaoxu.

"You mean, Ji Gang and Mu Su are originally from the same hometown of Su'an, Shandong?"

Zhu Gaoxu glanced at the sturdy young man not far away who seemed loyal, brave and reliable, and asked Ouyang Lun.

Ouyang Lun said respectfully: "That's right. I have sent people to check the identity information registered when the two entered Beijing. They are indeed from the same hometown of Su'an."

Of course Zhu Gaoxu knew who Ji Gang was.

Historically, during the Battle of Jingnan, when King Zhu Di of Yan led 20 cavalrymen to pass through Linyi Su'an, Ji Gang, a native of Su'an, joined his fellow villager Mu Su to join the army. Ji Gang risked his life to seize Zhu Di's mount and asked for his service.

The king of Yan, Zhu Di, liked Jigang's bravery and proficiency in bow and horse, so he immediately accepted him as his personal soldier.

After the success of Jingnan, Zhu Di ascended the throne, and Jigang personally took the initiative when eradicating the old opposition officials of Jianwen.

Ji Gang was rebellious and scheming, and was good at catering to Zhu Di's desire to eliminate dissidents.

He set up school lieutenants extensively, collected military and civilian intelligence, used harsh punishments and laws, framed and slandered, and made many meritorious deeds. He was soon promoted to the commander of the Imperial Guard, in charge of the pro-army and in charge of the prison.

It was difficult for Zhu Gaoxu to connect the sturdy young man in his early 30s, who seemed to be loyal, brave and reliable, with Ji Gang, the commander of the Jin Yiwei who committed evil and cruel methods in history.

If he remembered correctly, the historical regulations had falsely ordered millions of kilograms of salt from the salt field, seized official ships to transport it, and pocketed all the money. They had also framed hundreds of wealthy businessmen, seized their assets for themselves, and even sent people to castrate them. Hundreds of young children from good families serve him around.

Such a sycophantic minister who studied Zhao Gao's "regarding a deer as a horse" in history was eventually executed by Zhu Di on the charge of "conspiracy for treason", but at the moment he was just a passionate young man who wanted to join the Shenji Team and serve the imperial court.

"Your Highness, after inspection by the subordinates, Ji Gang and the kidnapped Mu Su are both people who have practiced martial arts."

Wei Xian came back and replied.

Zhu Gaoxu said: "Let Ji Gang come to see me."

"Ji Gang, a grassroots citizen, pays homage to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince!"

Ji Gang came over with great excitement and quickly knelt down and kowtowed.

"Are you Ji Gang from Su'an, Shandong?"

Zhu Gaoxu asked lukewarmly.

Ji Gang lowered his head and said respectfully: "Your Highness, you are a common man."

Zhu Gaoxu said without changing his expression: "I heard that you want to join the Divine Machine Team and serve the imperial court. If that's the case, then I will fulfill your wish."

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(End of this chapter)