Rebirth of Zhu Di's son

Chapter 202 I, Daming, am so willful

Summer house.

In the front yard.

"The little boy carried the goods that the old man received from the Ministry of Household Affairs and sold them as early as the seven-day transaction. The young man really couldn't bear to see the old man still living in such a place, so he kept paying attention. Recently, he Buy a suitable house.”

The housekeeper knelt on his knees, lowered his head, and said with tears and snot in his nose: "I wanted to move over first while the master was not at home and take care of the matter. Sir, please don't drive me away." !”

After he finished speaking, he immediately kowtowed three times.

At this time, the housekeeper called Xia Yuanji "Sir", which really showed his utmost respect for Xia Yuanji.

In later generations of costume films and TV dramas, as long as there is an official or a semi-official person, from the prime minister to the minister or the subordinate official, they are all called "Sir". It is rare in history books.

The word "adult" is found in many scriptures, and it mostly refers to people with high moral standards, fame and status, or people with power and a certain status.

For example, "The Book of Changes": "A great man has the same virtue as heaven and earth", "Mencius": "A great man never loses his innocence", "Zhuangzi": "A great man is not worthy of being a sage", "The Analects of Confucius" and so on: : "Afraid of adults", "Mencius": "Speak of adults and despise them".

Before the Tang and Song Dynasties, "adult" was mostly used to refer to parents, uncles and other elders in history books. For example, "Confucius Family Sayings": "Zengzi said: 'Ginseng offends the adults'", "Historical Records": "Fan Li's son said: 'The eldest son in the family' , I am guilty now, but the Lord does not punish me, it is because I am unworthy.'" "Hanshu": "Zhang Bo pretended to be the King of Huaiyang and wrote a letter: 'Go and beg for the bones of the Lord.'"

From the Eastern Han Dynasty to the Wei and Jin Dynasties, people who came down from the Eastern Han Dynasty and the Wei and Jin Dynasties were called "adults". "People who are close servants of the palace have no official position but are in a prominent position, so they are called adults."

Precisely because eunuchs do not have official positions, they are called "sir", which is the honorific title used to address their parents, uncles and other elders.

This is a special usage and is obviously not a general term for officials.

It was only after the Song Dynasty that the use of calling officials "adult" began to appear. For example, in "Pipa Ji" written by Gao Zecheng of the Yuan Dynasty, Cai Zhuangyuan called Huangmen "adult". It can be seen that in the Yuan Dynasty, high-ranking officials were already called adults.

Although it was relatively common during the Ming and Qing Dynasties to call officials "adults", it is difficult to see this usage in the "History of the Ming Dynasty" and "Manuscripts of the History of the Qing Dynasty". The title "adults" was used rarely and often. It's called parents.

Therefore, in the Ming and Qing dynasties, calling officials "adult" was a daily spoken language and was rarely used in formal and written situations. It was mostly used to address "high-ranking people" and "noble officials", not all officials.

The housekeeper's "Sir" and begging made Xia's mother and Xia's wife standing nearby feel extremely sad.

But after Xia Yuanji heard the housekeeper's explanation, he still couldn't suppress his anger and scolded: "Lao Yutou, I usually treat you very well, but what you did when buying the house was just a bastard! You are really courageous. How dare you do it for me?" Did I make the decision?"

If Xia's wife remembers correctly, the housekeeper Yu who is now in tears is the sixth housekeeper of the Xia family.

The previous five housekeepers all left because they could not bear the poverty of the Xia family, and some even left without saying goodbye after only working for a month. The one with the most endurance is this housekeeper Yu, who has been with the Xia family for a year and a half.

Housekeeper Yu is Xia's mother's cousin and is now in her 40s.

He lost his wife in middle age, his two daughters are already married, and he has a young son with dementia who needs to be taken care of.

After Xia's mother found out about this, she found Lao Yu at the end of the year before last, hoping that Lao Yu could come to help the Xia family, and specifically allowed him to live with his demented young son in the Xia family.

Lao Yu was so grateful that he immediately packed his luggage and took his young son to the capital on a starry night.

Therefore, he and his silly son spent the Spring Festival in the fourth year of Yongle with the Xia family.

In the next year, those who came to Xia's house to serve as housekeepers could not bear the suffering and left one by one. Xia's mother made the decision and let the honest old Yutou become the housekeeper.

This is also the reason why Xia Yuanji became furious after learning the truth.

He really couldn't believe that the honest old Yutou actually dared to make such a big deal of buying a house without telling him!
Although Butler Yu meant well, Xia Yuanji was still very angry!
Seeing that Old Yu was crying pitifully, Mrs. Xia couldn't help but persuade her: "Mom is still living in a leaky house at this age. It is His Majesty's will to reduce the salary for extra goods, and it is not our intention to seek profit. It is only natural that an official should use his salary to buy a house, isn't that what others do too?"

Seeing that Xia Yuanji's attitude was a little softer, she continued to persuade: "Besides, where is the house? It's just three better houses. You have also been an official for half your life. I didn't ask for anything when I married you. Rich, but as juniors, we can’t let my mother suffer with us, right?”

After listening to Xia's wife's heart-wrenching remarks, Xia Yuanji finally couldn't help but feel the sadness in his heart. He knelt down and kowtowed to Xia's mother.

"Mother, my son is unfilial! I am wronged for letting my mother follow my son."

He raised his head and said with tears in his eyes: "But this house really can't be bought. My son hasn't even raised the money and food for His Majesty's northern expedition. The money from selling the goods has to be handed over to the Ministry of Household Affairs."

Xia's mother is a person who understands the general picture, otherwise she would not be able to teach a capable minister like Xia Yuanji.

So, after thinking for a while, she looked at the housekeeper, Old Yu, and said slowly: "Butler, you shouldn't hide this from all of us."

"I know I was wrong, little one." Butler Yu whispered.

Xia's mother said: "Give the money to buy the house to the master."

"Yes."

Butler Yu hesitated slightly, then answered.

"Mom, my son is sorry for you! When I have money in the future, I will definitely let you live in a big house."

Xia Yuanji kneeled down to Xia's mother's feet, hugged the latter's legs, and choked with sobs.

Xia's mother knelt down, helped Xia Yuanji up, and said with a sad face: "But Wei Zhe, how can you complete the errand entrusted to you by His Majesty with the little silver coins our family has to sell goods?"

Xia Yuanji responded silently.

He had already decided that if the Ministry of Revenue really could not raise enough food and salary, he would take the initiative to plead guilty to Zhu Di and be willing to be punished.

The next day.

Backwards.

Hall of Martial Arts.

Zhu Di was sitting behind the imperial table. The civil and military officials of the fourth rank and above in Beijing, as well as the cabinet advisers, were on both sides of the hall. Zhu Gaoxu was sitting in the first place on the lower left side of Zhu Di.

"Xia Yuanji, how are the military pay and food preparations going?"

Zhu Di put down the memorial in his hand, looked at Xia Yuanji and asked.

"The humble minister is incompetent and has not been able to raise enough money and food to supply the Northern Expedition army. Please punish him."

Xia Yuanji left his seat, walked to the middle of the hall, knelt down and kowtowed.

"Get up."

Zhu Di had long known that the Ministry of Revenue would not be able to prepare enough military rations and wages for [-] soldiers in a short period of time. After being silent for a while, he raised his hand and said.

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

Xia Yuanji slowly stood up, stepped aside, and sat down again.

"What good advice do you have?"

Zhu Di looked around at the civil and military ministers in the palace and asked loudly.

Ministers, you looked at me, I looked at you, but for a moment no one spoke.

"Are you just going to watch the rebels from the north wantonly invading our Ming border?"

Zhu Di asked the ministers angrily.

"Your Majesty, the general is willing to bring only 3 troops and fight to the death to defeat the Tatars. Please give your order."

Xu Huizu stood up and walked to the hall, knelt down on one knee, and took the initiative to ask for orders.

"Your Majesty, the [-] soldiers and horses sent to Mobei are really stretched. The problem of soldiers' pay and food has been solved, but the trouble of victory or defeat has come again."

Fang Xiaoru stood up, bowed and saluted and said: "If something goes wrong in this expedition, it will not only dampen the spirit of our army, but also attract the rebels to go south and attack the city. In this way, the overall situation in the north will be out of control. I think that if there is no The odds of winning are better not to post.”

Zhu Di has decided to issue an order today to ask Song Sheng, the Marquis of Xining, to assemble an army of [-] troops and lead an expedition to the west. Considering that he has to conquer the north again, if he pays attention to one thing and loses another, the gains will outweigh the losses.

After pondering for a moment, he nodded and said, "In that case, just be patient and think of a solution."

"Your Majesty, King Zhou Qiansui, Ning King Qiansui, and Han King Qiansui are outside the palace asking for an audience."

At this moment, the eunuch Changsheng walked in from outside the palace and saluted.

"Let them in."

Zhu Di said loudly.

"According to the order."

Changsheng bowed.

After a while, King Zhu Zhu of Zhou, King Zhu Quan of Ning, and King Zhu Song of Han walked into the hall one after another, came ten steps away from the imperial table, and knelt down in an orderly manner.

When Zhu Di saw this, he immediately raised his hand and said: "Okay, okay, three brothers, this is not a great court meeting in Fengtian Palace. Don't make those false gestures. Please sit down." "Thank you, Fourth Brother, His Majesty the Emperor." "

The three kings Zhou, Ning and Han said in unison.

Zhu Gaoxu helped Zhou Wang Zhu Ji up, and stretched out his hand to signal the three kings: "Three uncles, please sit down quickly."

The three kings did not sit down, but the elder Zhou Wang Zhu Zhu took the lead in speaking.

"Your Majesty, Fourth Brother, my younger brother and others have discussed with King Dai, King Chu, and King Shen. They are willing to postpone the voyage for a few months, spend half of the rations prepared for the voyage, and barely scrape together [-] shi of food. They want to do their part for the court. .”

Zhou Wang Zhu Xi said loudly: "We and other brothers have collected more than 100 million taels of silver yuan. We want to donate this money and food to the court as food and salary for quelling thieves and rebellions. Please agree to your Majesty's permission."

When the civil and military officials in the palace heard this, they were all shocked. Even Zhu Gaoxu showed a very surprised expression.

For a moment, there was discussion in the hall.

"It's really the critical moment when we can see how close we are."

"The vassal kings are worthy of being the sons of Emperor Taizu Gao!"

"Sure enough, in the face of big issues, a family is more reliable. We are brothers fighting tigers!"

"Although Zheng He sent a clipper a few days ago and returned seven shipments of foreign goods, but now that it is freezing, the imperial court cannot exchange these foreign goods for supplies and food in a short time. After all, foreign goods cannot be used as food."

Zhu Gaoxu lamented in his heart that if all the vassal kings in the late Ming Dynasty in history were as understanding of righteousness as King Zhu Ju of Zhou, King Zhu Quan of Ning, and King Zhu Song of Han, the Ming Dynasty would not have perished.

Zhu Di took a deep breath and felt very happy in his heart. At the same time, he also saw that the kings could take this opportunity to win over people's hearts, gain fame, and plan for going to sea to build a country in the future.

At this time, Zhou Wang Zhu Ji raised the memorial in his hand and the large royal bank draft sandwiched in it.

Li Xing took the initiative to take the memorial from Zhou Wang Zhu Ji and forwarded it to Zhu Di.

"Your Majesty, although this money and food are not much, it is a little thought from my brothers. We are also descendants of the Zhu family. How can the country of Ming Dynasty be trampled by thieves?"

Zhou Wang Zhu Zhu said loudly.

What he meant was very straightforward. The world belonged to the Zhu family, and naturally all the vassal kings also had a share.

What's more, these princes are the sons of Taizu, so of course they must do their part for the Ming Dynasty.

Zhu Gaoxu sighed in his heart, the king of Zhou and other vassal kings deserved to be the sons of Emperor Hongwu!

The kings' actions were very beautiful, and everyone knew from now on that they were affectionate and righteous princes.

When the Ming Dynasty builds a country overseas in the future, people with lofty ideals in the Ming Dynasty can join them and make contributions.

"Brother, please leave." Zhou Wang Zhu Ju took the lead and bowed.

"My nephew is sending three uncles."

Zhu Gaoxu immediately answered.

Afterwards, he personally sent the three kings of Zhou, Ning and Han away from Wuying Hall.

After returning to Wuying Hall, Zhu Gaoxu immediately bowed to Zhu Di and said: "Father, I would like to donate one year's salary plus 1 taels of silver yuan to finance the imperial court's northern expedition."

When Zhu Di heard this, his spirits were lifted again.

1 taels of silver yuan is a huge sum of money!
Based on the purchasing power of silver yuan at this time, 1 taels is equivalent to millions of yuan in future generations!

Zhu Gaoxu took the lead in donating, but he couldn't donate too much, otherwise others behind him would look embarrassed if they donated too little.

Duke Xu Huizu of Wei clasped his fists and said loudly: "At the end of the day, I am willing to donate 8000 taels of silver yuan."

Fang Xiaoru stood up and bowed: "I would like to donate 1000 taels of silver and add one year's salary."

Xie Jin stood up and said, "I am willing to donate 2000 taels of silver."

"I am also willing to donate 2000 taels of silver." Huang Huai stood up and said.

"I donated three hundred stones of food." Zhuo Jing, the Minister of Household Affairs, bowed and said.

Qi Tai, the minister of the Ministry of War, said: "I am willing to donate 1000 taels of silver and add one year's salary."

Zheng Ci, the Minister of Rites, stood up and said, "I would like to donate five hundred shi of grain and 1000 taels of silver."

"I am willing to donate 2000 taels of silver." Zhang Yan, the official minister, bowed and said.

"..."

Above the main hall, the voices of donating money and food came and went continuously.

Of course, some officials saw that the public sentiment was rising and they really couldn't hide. They had to actively donate to avoid being embarrassed.

"Only when the king and his ministers work together can the king and his ministers be united. The kings do not care about their personal interests, and they are all brothers, serving the country's great interests and setting an example."

Zhu Di was moved and said: "I know that you are not well-off, and you are starting a business with me. Among the many major things in the Yongle New Deal, you have to do the things that you understand, and you are also doing your best to handle the things that you can't figure out for a while. Everyone. I am very pleased that the vassal king and his ministers can put state affairs first, save money on food and clothing, and overcome difficulties together."

When he said this, he specifically looked at Xia Yuanji and said, "Xia Yuanji, I'm in trouble for you."

"Your Majesty, the country is in trouble. As a minister, let alone donate some money or materials."

Xia Yuanji said sonorously and forcefully: "Even if it hurts my brain and body, I won't hesitate!"

Since ancient times, Chinese people have been like this. They have never been ambiguous in the face of national justice and life and death.

"Okay, with ministers like you, I will definitely strategize and win the battle thousands of miles away. Xu Huizu?"

Zhu Di suddenly stood up and said loudly.

"The end is here."

Xu Huizu knelt on one knee and said.

"I appoint you as the General of the Northern Campaign, and also appoint Ping An, the commander of the Taicang Guard, and Bu Wan, the commander of the Daning Guard, as deputy generals, Wu Gao, Marquis of Jiangyin, the Liaoyang Guard, and Chen Gui, the commander of the Kaiping Guard, as staff generals. They will lead [-] troops. The rebels of the remaining Yuan Dynasty were marched to the north. Mei Yin, the Prince Consort, was the general quartermaster of the army in the northern expedition, and the King of Liao, King Qing, and King Min were the quartermasters of the front, middle and rear routes."

Zhu Di ordered.

"The general will definitely live up to everyone's expectations and present the heads of Arutai and Benya at the Meridian Gate of the capital."

Xu Huizu loudly accepted the order.

Zhu Di then looked at Jin Zhong, Shangshu of the Ministry of War, and ordered: "The Ministry of War listened to the decree and changed the inner city of Yili to Ili City, established the Yili Capital Command and Envoy Division to manage the former Ili Valley, and ordered Cao Guogong Li Jinglong to concurrently serve as the commander of the division. Guard Ili City."

"The minister leads the order."

Jin Zhong bowed and accepted the order.

Then, Zhu Di turned to look at Zhu Gaoxu and asked, "Prince, how much food and grass are there in the northwest now?"

"Back to my father, according to the report from the Marquis of Xining, as of the end of the first month of the fifth year of Yongle, the towns and fortresses in the northwest had stocked enough food for [-] soldiers for eight months."

Zhu Gaoxu bowed and replied.

Zhu Di frowned and scanned the faces of the cabinet advisers and the six department officials with his profound eyes.

After thinking for a moment, he said loudly: "As the saying goes, 'Opportunities cannot be missed, and they will never come back.' Since the situation in the Western Region is excellent, the Marquis of Xining has also prepared enough food and grass."

"In accordance with my decree, Song Sheng, Marquis of Ningxia, is appointed as the General of the Western Expedition, Qiu Fu, the Marquis of Qi, is the Deputy General of the Left, and Li Yuan, the Marquis of Anping, is the Right Deputy General of the Western Expedition. Ningxia's chief military officers, Ningyuan Hou He Fu, and Yi Ji Nai, command the envoy Jinghe. Bo Chen Heng and Shaanxi Xingdu Commander Liu Zhenju were the participating generals. They assembled an army of [-] and divided the troops into three routes to advance into the Western Regions and leveled the area north of the Tianshan Mountains. Xu Yingxu was appointed as the general quartermaster of the Western Army, and Zhu Chun, the King of Shu , Jin King Zhu Bai (formerly King of Xiang), and Su King Zhu Kai (yang) served as quartermasters for the front, middle and rear routes."

All the ministers in the palace knew that the imperial court had been preparing for the use of troops in the Western Regions since the second half of the third year of Yongle.

Even though there were changes in the northern border, Zhu Di still did not hesitate to order the simultaneous use of troops in the Western Regions after solving the problem of military pay and food.

"Da Ming will win!"

The ministers shouted.

Zhu Di and Zhu Gaoxu had been waiting for this day for more than a year, and so were the ministers.

They will witness the return of the Western Regions in their lifetime!

(End of this chapter)